FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 28, 2012
Contact: Meghan Finegan, 617-283-8597
Supreme Court upholds Affordable Care Act:
Life-Saving Insurance Protections, Expansion of Care to 32 Million Americans and Affordable Healthcare Options All to Move Forward
Washington, DC – SEIU President Mary Kay Henry issued this statement in response to the decision by the US Supreme Court today to uphold the Affordable Care Act as fully constitutional, including expansion of care to 32 million Americans, a range of consumer protections from insurance company abuses, the creation of competitive marketplaces in states for individuals to purchase lower cost insurance, and quality of care improvements:
“For more than two years, Republicans like Speaker Boehner, Congressman Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney have put their political careers ahead of working Americans struggling to afford and keep their healthcare. Insurance companies and corporate insiders have spent millions to take away the benefits of the law. Today, the Supreme Court rejected their cynical approach and working people won a resounding victory.
“Today’s decision means that Americans like Dezeray Ybarra, a cancer survivor now in her teens, will have the healthcare she needs as she grows to adulthood.
“It means Kim Klinger, an oncology nurse in Pennsylvania, can continue to deliver the care and treatment her patients deserve and see them have a fighting chance at living a longer life.
“It means that Tee McClenty’s son who, like so many of his peers, is struggling to find that first good job that offers health insurance within his budget, can continue to have healthcare coverage under his parent’s plan.
“Thanks to President Barack Obama and the members of Congress who believed that passing this law would not only save lives, but endow our children with a more promising and secure future, there are more than 100 million Americans of all political parties, ages, incomes and occupations that are benefitting from the Affordable Care Act.
“Americans everywhere are struggling to afford rent, groceries and gas to get to work. The Court’s decision today is vitally important because now is not the time to slow down the benefits of the law that is making healthcare more affordable. Now is the time to keep America moving forward.”
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With 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers—not just corporations and CEOs—benefit from today’s global economy. www.seiu.org
