Congressional Hispanic Caucus Commends ACA Expansion Including DACA Recipients

SAN ANTONIO, TX — The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement on H.R. 1425, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act:

"Today the House of Representatives took an important step by expanding access to quality, affordable health care, including for DACA recipients. In the middle of this pandemic, it's critical that Congress ensures DACA recipients—including over 200,000 Dreamers serving as essential workers— have equal access to quality, affordable health care. Leaving these young people uninsured, especially during the coronavirus outbreak, simply does not advance the goals of the ACA nor benefit the American people. The Supreme Court has affirmed that DACA recipients are here to stay.

"In April, over 50 House Democrats called on President Trump to allow DACA recipients to access Affordable Care Act benefits in response to the coronavirus crisis and the administration failed to act. I appreciate the steadfast leadership of Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Congressman Mark Pocan, and support from Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chairwoman Judy Chu, Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Karen Bass, Congressional Native American Caucus Co-Chair Deb Haaland, and Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal for working in collaboration with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to include this vital DACA provision in the final bill. I hope in the future that Congress builds on this progress by eliminating the five-year waiting period for lawful residents, including green card holders, to access key health programs."

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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), founded in December 1976, is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. The CHC is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories.