"One might argue that education and healthcare fall into those provisions of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," she said. Jackson Lee also praised President Obama for fighting for these rights.



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"I think that what should be continuously emphasized is the President's leadership on one single point: that although healthcare was not listedin the Constitution, it should be a constitutional right," she said.She added that the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act helps the U.S. achieve the goal of forming a "more perfect union.""I think the Affordable Care Act was intended to try and lift the boats of all people," she said.Jackson Lee is not the first Democrat to link the right to healthcare and the Constitution. A year ago, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the law promotes life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, since it helps give people the flexibility to pursue the work they want."A healthier life, the liberty to pursue happiness, free of the constraints that lack of healthcare might provide to a family," Pelosi said in March 2012 . "If you want to be photographer, a writer, an artist, a musician, you can do so. If you what to start a business, if you want to change jobs, under the Affordable Care Act, you have that liberty to pursue your happiness."