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S. 4653Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)Failed

A bill to protect the healthcare of hundreds of millions of people of the United States and prevent efforts of the Department of Justice to advocate courts to strike down the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Sponsored by Charles E. SchumerSen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)
Introduced September 22, 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 3:08 PM UTC

The bill seeks to safeguard health coverage for hundreds of millions of Americans by stopping the Department of Justice from urging courts to overturn any part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It would block the DOJ from arguing that the law—or any of its amendments—should be invalidated, including in the specific case California v. Texas.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibits the Department of Justice from advocating in any court that any provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or its amendments be struck down.

Legislative Activity

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5 earlier actions
SenateFloor Latest Action

Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 43. Record Vote Number: 200. (CR S6015)

View vote Failed

October 1, 2020

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 22, 2020

SenateCalendars

Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (text: CR S5791)

September 22, 2020

SenateCalendars

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 551.

September 23, 2020

SenateFloor

Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S5890)

September 29, 2020

SenateFloor

Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S5890)

September 29, 2020

SenateFloor

Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 43. Record Vote Number: 200. (CR S6015)

View vote Failed

October 1, 2020

Voting History

1 vote recorded • Roll call available

SENATE

Roll Call Available

October 1, 2020 at 1:05 PM

On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed S. 4653

Majority required: 3/5 (60%)

Failed

51 - 43

Amendments

2 amendments

Offered to this bill

Bill Text

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Placed on Calendar SenateIssued September 23, 2020

II

Calendar No. 551

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4653

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 22, 2020

Mr. Schumer introduced the following bill; which was read the first time

September 23, 2020

Read the second time and placed on the calendar

A BILL

To protect the healthcare of hundreds of millions of people of the United States and prevent efforts of the Department of Justice to advocate courts to strike down the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

1.

Prohibiting DOJ efforts to advocate courts to strike down Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

The Department of Justice may not in any case, including in California v. Texas, No. 19–840 (U.S. cert. granted Mar. 2, 2020), advocate that a court invalidate any provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111–148; 124 Stat. 119) or any amendment made by that Act.

September 23, 2020

Read the second time and placed on the calendar