Statement
STATEMENT OF Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director, MomsRising, On Supreme Court Ruling on Affordable Care Act
June 28, 2012
Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996
Moms Organization Leader Applauds Supreme Court for Upholding Health Law Important to Moms, Families
“As moms and caregivers for our families, we know how crucial health care is. The Affordable Care Act has proven to be a life-changing, and life-saving, law, and we are overjoyed that families will continue to benefit from its provisions.
“Today, millions of families have hope for easier access to affordable health care. They will no longer be at the mercy of the abuses of the insurance industry. Millions will be able to get the coverage they went without, and no one will have to worry about being denied coverage or care because of conditions beyond their control, or losing their coverage when they get sick and need it the most.
“Since the health reform debate began, MomsRising members have spoken out about how our broken health care system is harming their families, and how the Affordable Care Act helps.
“We heard from Julie in California, whose 5-year-old daughter has a rare condition and was facing a lifetime limit on her health coverage. On the day the Affordable Care Act was passed, Julie told us she would be able to sleep soundly for the first time in months knowing her daughter couldn’t be denied the care she needs because of a pre-existing condition.
“We also heard from Bonnie, a 23-year-old who has liver disease caused by a birth defect, who can now stay on her parents’ insurance until age 26, and Nan, a small business owner who will receive approximately $12,000 in tax credits for insuring her employees. Money that she can then reinvest in her business.
“Julie, Bonnie and Nan are not alone; thousands more stories like theirs flooded in—from the heartbreaking, to the inspirational, to the joyous. They strengthened our resolve to support health reform and we could not let these voices go unheard.
“MomsRising members made more than 600,000 contacts with Members of Congress in support of health care for all before the passage of the Affordable Care Act: meeting with Members of Congress in their district offices, sharing our stories with lawmakers, making phone calls to legislative offices, sending emails and sending messages which were delivered to federal legislators in-person by MomsRising members in Washington, DC.
“Today, the Supreme Court rightly ruled that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional, and moms and their families across the country can rest easy knowing they will continue to see the important provisions of this crucial law roll out and make our nation safer and healthier.
“We are deeply disappointed that the U.S. House is planning a repeal vote and we urge House representatives in the strongest possible terms to stop playing politics, and get back to the real work of creating jobs and strengthening the economy.”
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MEDIA NOTE: Stories referred to in this statement and others from across the country are available on the MomsRising website. These and other MomsRising members who have agreed to share their stories are available to the media for comment. If you are interested in arranging an interview with a family who has benefited from the ACA, please contact Molly Tomlinson or Gretchen Wright at 202/371-1999.