WASHINGTON - Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in David King, et al v. Sylvia Burwell, Secretary of Health and Human Services, et al. The Ranking Members of the House Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and the Workforce today reiterated their support of the affordability provisions within the Affordable Care Act, as previously noted in an Amicus Brief before the Court. Ranking Members Sander Levin (D-MI), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and Robert C. “Bobby" Scott (D-VA) released the following joint statement:
“Since day one, our commitment has been to provide quality and affordable health insurance for all Americans, regardless of whether a state chose to operate its own marketplace or let state residents purchase insurance in the federal marketplace. Let us be clear: the Affordable Care Act was structured and designed to improve health insurance coverage and access across the entire country.
“During debate on the bill, we fully understood that tax subsidies would be available to our constituents, irrespective of the decisions of state legislators. The Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation also echoed the original intent by including the cost of tax subsidies for all eligible Americans in their Affordable Care Act cost estimates.
“As the marketplaces were established, tax subsidies were available to any American who was eligible for them, regardless of the state’s action or inaction to establish a state marketplace - just as the law intended. Because of the law, millions of Americans, including many in our states, are now able to access quality and affordable health care, some of them even for the first time.
“Those questioning the intent and clarity of the law are attempting to undermine Americans’ access to health care and the health security they now enjoy. Taking this access away would not only be disruptive to these constituents, but catastrophic to the broader health care system.
Congressmen Levin, Pallone and Scott recently joined members of bicameral Congressional leadership and representatives from state legislatures in filing an Amicus Brief in support of Secretary Burwell. Together, the Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and the Workforce hold jurisdiction over the Affordable Care Act.
