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ALBANY, NY – This morning, Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) released the following statement in reaction to President Trump’s actions yesterday to allow the return of junk insurance and end the cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments required under the Affordable Care Act for the individual insurance marketplaces:

“President Trump has spent the majority of his first year in office trying to senselessly repeal the Affordable Care Act. He has not made any progress. Now, to prove himself right, he is imploding the health care system and celebrating its demise. America deserves better. The President’s vindictive actions continue this Administration’s assault on New Yorkers and all Americans – as the Congressional Budget Office anticipates that 2018 premiums will soar up to 20 percent nationwide as a direct result of this decision.

“I join with patient groups such as the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, and United Way in denouncing President Trump’s attack on millions of people with pre-existing conditions and serious illnesses. If the president has no constructive solutions that would improve the ACA, he should get out of the way and let Congress work together to fix what is broken while reducing the cost of health care.

“Let me be clear – the recent temper tantrum thrown by President Trump will result in chaos in the healthcare marketplace – costing money, time and the health of the American people. We must do better.”

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