SCOTUS ACA DECISION
Chairman Charles Gonzalez (TX-20):
“The Supreme Court’s decision is a victory for all Americans, including the 16 million uninsured Hispanics. Access to healthcare has been a longstanding concern to the Hispanic community, as Latinos are far less likely to get preventive services but have a greater chance than whites of being diagnosed with diseases like diabetes.
“Already we have seen the benefits of these reforms in the Latino community. Nearly 750,000 young Latinos have been able to get coverage through their parents’ plans and by 2014, when the reforms are fully implemented, 9 million more uninsured Latinos will be eligible to receive coverage. With the decision, America moves closer to lightening the burden on working families and ensuring that all our citizens will have a brighter future.
“Now, it is time for my Republican colleagues to stop playing partisan politics with Americans’ well-being. Their obstructionist arguments lost in Congress and lost in our country’s highest court, so hopefully Republicans will end their insistence that important policy goals cannot or should not be accomplished. The Supreme Court has announced clearly that our healthcare reforms are constitutional and can deliver coverage to those who need it most, so now Congress must move forward with solutions. If things are done simply for the sake of political advantage, as Republicans have demonstrated to do, the American people will continue to suffer. ”
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34), Chair of CHC Health Task Force:“This ruling is wonderful news. It is particularly important for minorities in our country, who make up 30% of the population, but are 50% of the uninsured. Every year more than 83,000 racial and ethnic minorities die because they don’t have access to high quality health care. The Affordable Care Act is a landmark health equity law that extends health coverage to 32 million more individuals and provides the critical investments and reforms necessary to eliminate health care disparities, especially in minority and underserved communities. Now that the fight is over, we can focus on making sure that the Affordable Care Act is implemented in a manner that maximizes access, coverage and care. Today is the beginning of a new chapter of stability and security in our nation’s health care system.”
Rep. Ed Pastor (AZ-4): “This is a profoundly important day for all Americans,” Pastor said Thursday. “I commend the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Healthcare Law and continue with its implementation of vital provisions.”
“With this ruling, the court recognized the opportunity we have as a nation to move forward and ensure that all Americans have the healthcare coverage they need and deserve. This decision will have a profound and positive impact on our country’s health delivery system. It is truly a great day for all Americans.”
Rep. Xavier Becerra (CA-31), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus: “Three years ago, we began our historic work in Congress to ensure that no American could be denied access to affordable health care, to lower the costs of prescription drugs for our seniors, and to protect our children and most vulnerable from being taken advantage of by the worst practices of the insurance companies. Today, the Supreme Court of the United States has reaffirmed the constitutionality of our work on behalf of the American people to fix a broken health care system. I applaud the Court for its reasoned decision and I look forward to building upon the historic health care reform law to put the American people and their doctors back in charge of their health care decisions.”
Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (IL-04): When I retire, I will be buying insurance from a health care exchange just like everyone else and I am proud to live in a country that allows working class families, blue collar workers and former Congressmen to share health care risks and health rewards and equal opportunity for life saving coverage. For Latino families, for Chicago families, and for all families, the extension of coverage to young adults, the eventual extension of coverage to people who cannot afford care, and the security that will be built into our health care system are life changing and tremendously helpful. This will literally help people live who before this law, if they were sick and couldn't afford care or couldn't switch health policies, were sentenced to death or poverty or both. Today's ruling makes a definitive statement about how dearly we hold the values of equality and opportunity in the United States.”
Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-12): “The Court set aside partisanship to render a fair and moral decision. With the Affordable Care Act, we have strengthened our nation and laid the foundation for a fairer, more just and healthier society.”
Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15): "I am extremely pleased that the Supreme Court has decisively ruled that the Affordable Care act is constitutional. This is a huge victory for the American people and a testament to the hard work by the Obama administration and those in Congress who worked so hard to pass the law. The fight is not over, and I will continue to work to ensure that everyone in America has access to affordable and comprehensive health care. As more provisions of the act go into effect over the next few years, American families will see more benefits and have greater access."
Rep. Joe Baca (CA-43): “I commend the Supreme Court for upholding the majority of provisions in the historic Affordable Care Act. Today’s decision is a victory for families across America, who will benefit from lower health costs, greater access to care, and more accountability from the insurance industry. Health care reform is especially critical to the Hispanic community as it is the first law to comprehensively address health inequities with a plan to end the disparities that impact Hispanics and other underserved communities. Thanks to this historic decision, we can ensure that access to affordable, quality health care is a right for every American.”
Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-7): “Today’s decision is a turning point for the American people. Let’s remember that millions of American families suffered without health care coverage for decades. The health care reform program has already benefited millions of families. The Court’s decision to uphold reform proposed by President Obama and enacted by the Congress is a sign that dramatic change can happen when the American people demand change. We have made an important step forward toward our goal of affordable universal coverage. Now we need to be vigilant to implement the law so that American families have the health care they have needed for decades.”
Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28): “This decision is a victory for Texans, the middle class and the American people. With this ruling, Americans will continue to benefit from crucial patient protections, lower costs for the middle class, more coverage for families, greater certainty for hospitals and businesses, and stronger accountability for the insurance industry. The facts speak for themselves, and it is clear that Americans are better off under the provisions set out in the Affordable Care Act—and there is still more to come. I hope that my colleagues will work together in a bipartisan manner to continue to make the necessary improvements and adjustments to this law. I am proud to be a member of the party that passed Medicare, Social Security and health care reform—three crucial programs that make life better for Texans and all Americans.”
Rep. Ben Ray Luján (NM-03): “For too long, families and small businesses have seen their health care costs skyrocket as they continue to pay more and receive less. The ranks of the uninsured grew while insurance companies continued to deny or drop coverage for those who needed it most. That is why President Obama and Democrats in Congress took to action to pass health insurance reform that ends the insurance companies worst abuses, expands coverage, and takes steps to bring down costs for hard-working Americans. Today’s decision by the Supreme Court to uphold the law is an important victory for the American people. Young adults will be able to remain on their parents’ insurance plan, those with pre-existing conditions will be assured that they will have health insurance, and seniors will continue to pay less for prescription drugs and receive free preventive care.”
Rep. Pedro R. Pierluisi (PR): “Today’s Supreme Court decision upholding the Affordable Care Act in all key respects is a victory for the American people, including the 3.7 million American citizens living in Puerto Rico, who have long faced discriminatory treatment under federal health programs and who saw their treatment substantially improved with the passage of this law. Today’s decision is also a victory for the rule of law over partisan politics, with the Republican-appointed Chief Justice joining with four Democratic-appointed Justices to uphold the legislation. Simply put, today is a great day.”