below, release from Durbin....

DURBIN TO CHAIR HEARING ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY

OF THE HEALTH CARE LAW WEDNESDAY

[WASHINGTON, D.C] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) will chair the first-ever Congressional hearing examining the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act on Wednesday, February 2nd, at 10:00am ET. The hearing will be held in room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington.

Durbin's hearing comes two days after a Florida court ruled that last year's health care law was unconstitutional. It is the fourth federal district court to rule on the constitutionality of the law, with two courts upholding the law and two courts finding pieces of it unconstitutional. Durbin, one of the law's biggest proponents, will argue that the bill is constitutional and that legal challenges to the legislation are driven by partisan opposition to its reforms.

The Affordable Care Act was signed into law in March of last year, making it the largest reform of our nation's health care system in forty-five years. Two weeks ago, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a bill repealing the law. Similar efforts are not expected to pass the Senate.

Witnesses expected to testify at Wednesday's hearing include: Oregon Attorney General John Kroger; Georgetown University law professor Randy Barnett; Michael Carvin, a partner at Jones Day; Duke University law professor and former Solicitor General Walter Dellinger; and Harvard University law professor and former Solicitor General Charles Fried.

The hearing will be before the full Judiciary Committee and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) will be the panel's Ranking Member. The hearing will be webcast on the Judiciary Committee's website.

Who: Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL)

What: Judiciary Committee Hearing on

The Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act

When: Wednesday, February 2, 2010

10:00am ET

Where: Room 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C.