Grijalva Applauds Supreme Court Decisions to Protect Health Care and Fair Housing
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva released the following statement today after the U.S. Supreme Court released its decisions in King v. Burwell and Texas Department of Housing and Communicty Affairs v. The Inclusive Community Protect, Inc.
The Court affirmed the Fourth Circuit ruling in King v. Burwell, ensuring Americans are entitled to keep their premium assistance under Affordable Care Act. The ruling is particularly important to the people of Arizona after Governor Ducey signed H.B. 2643 in April 2015, a bill that obstructs Arizona’s ability to operate its own health insurance exchange. If the Supreme Court had ruled against the Fourth Circuit today, it would have barred the federal government from providing premium assistance in Arizona and 33 other states that have declined to set up a state-run exchange. In Arizona alone, more than 125,000 people would have faced an average increase of $158.00 a month, causing many to lose their coverage entirely.
“Today, the Supreme Court once again validated the right of every American – regardless of which state they live in – to have quality health coverage at a reasonable price,” said Rep. Grijalva. “The political decision of state lawmakers in Arizona to snub President Obama and this healthcare law with House Bill 2643 threatened that right for too many Arizonans. More than 125,000 people could have paid a heavy price for those political games, and that is completely unacceptable.
“I hope that with this decision, the Republican Party in Arizona and across the country recognizes the will of the American people to see this law stand; to see their loved ones receiving the care they need at a price they can afford; and to see an end to the reckless political antics that are below the dignity of the offices that many of these Republican policymakers hold. It’s time for them to move on.”
The Supreme Court also rejected Texas Department of Housing and Communicty Affairs v. The Inclusive Community Protect, Inc., a case that could have significantly weakened the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The ruling allows the law to continue covering disparate impact – that is, actions in the housing sphere that have a discriminatory result, even if unintentional.
“The Fair Housing Act is a landmark civil rights law, and thanks to the Court’s decision today, it will continue protecting millions of Americans from discriminatory outcomes in the housing market,” said Rep. Grijalva. “Today is the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court decision to strike down the heart of the Voting Rights Act. We’ve seen firsthand just how damaging the erosion of civil rights protections are for our society. Today’s housing decision is a needed reminder that discrimination and segregation have no place in our society. From housing to health care – equality and justice have prevailed.”
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