BELLEVILLE, N.J. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee that sets national health policy, recently held a roundtable discussion at Clara Maass Medical Center where he heard directly New Jerseyans with pre-existing conditions who are desperately concerned they could lose the health care coverage protections they have because of the ACA. In the latest attempt to undermine the ACA, the Trump Justice Department (DOJ) has decided it will no longer defend, but attack the ACA in court, arguing that the ACA provision protecting those with pre-existing conditions should be ruled unconstitutional, denying millions of Americans coverage or hiking premiums to unaffordable rates based upon their health status

In a moment when health care is one of the top issues that New Jerseyans care about, Sen. Menendez heard the heart-wrenching stories of individuals and parents of children with pre-existing conditions who would be hurt if this provision is struck down:

Glen Rosenwald, of Rahway, suffers from Hemophilia.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH GLEN

Marnie McNany, of Livingston, talked about her daughter, who lives with Down Syndrome.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH MARNIE

Rebecca, of Randolph, suffers from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She came with her Dad, Steve Shannon, who lives in South Orange.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH REBECCA

Heather Simms, of Egg Harbor, says she lives with bi-polar disorder.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH HEATHER

Alton Robinson, of Morristown, is in long-term opioid recovery.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ALTON

Ali Chandra, of Middlesex, brought along her three-year-old son Ethan, who suffers from a rare condition.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ALI AND ETHAN

Chris Tarletsky, of Stewartsville, talked about his son who suffers from cystic fibrosis.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH CHRIS

Ann Vardeman, of Highland Park, shared her story of suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ANN

Mirnaly Cabezas, of Elizabeth, had her first stroke when she was seven months pregnant.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH MIRNALY

Visibly moved by these brave New Jerseyans, Sen. Menendez spoke about what’s at stake and promised to keep fighting to protect the ACA, “because when we raise our voices, we can achieve great things.”

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SENATOR MENENDEZ’S REACTION TO PERSONAL STORIES

Earlier this year, Texas, along with 18 other conservative states, filed a lawsuit arguing the validity of the ACA in light of the repeal of the individual mandate penalty in last year’s tax bill. The lawsuit argues that since the penalty was repealed in the tax bill, the requirement to buy insurance is null and void and since the guaranteed issue provisions and community rating requirements are inseparable from the mandate, they too fall. Last month, a court granted a request from New Jersey and 14 other Democratic states and the District of Columbia to intervene in the lawsuit brought by Texas.

Sen. Menendez has consistently fought to save the health coverage of millions of Americans who rely on the ACA, and has traveled the state to hear directly from New Jerseyans. Last year when the survival of the ACA was threatened, Sen. Menendez heard directly from constituents at the Newark Community Health Center. The senator focused on the impact of the Republican healthcare plan on women, met patients with preexisting conditions and their families during a visit to Hackensack University Medical Center, and discussed the impact of Medicaid cuts with constituents and advocates at the Southern Jersey Family Medical Center (SJFMC), a federally qualified health center in Burlington City.

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