Heck Statement on Supreme Court Health Care Decision

WASHINGTON - Congressman Joe Heck (NV-03) today released the following statement after the Supreme Court handed down its decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

"With all due respect to the Supreme Court, just because a law is deemed Constitutional, does not mean it is a good law.  This is still the same flawed bill that was forced through Congress on a party line vote in the dead of night with special interest provisions like the 'Cornhusker Kickback' and the 'Louisiana Purchase'.  And today we have learned that the law amounts to a huge tax increase on the American people in a struggling economy. We know that a majority of Americans think the law should be repealed and that it will increase health care costs, reduce access to care and add to our deficit.

"Instead of injecting more government into our health care system, our focus should be on patients, especially our seniors who rely on access to quality health care. Our system is working for most Americans and it can work for all Americans through common sense reforms like moving insurance coverage towards an individual-based model, increasing competition by allowing the purchase of insurance across state lines, incentivizing the purchase of insurance through tax credits, and letting people, not the government, decide what services they need and want.

"In the House, I will continue to work with my colleagues to repeal and replace this law with meaningful reforms that put patients at the center of our health care system. I have introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at repealing the onerous red tape on businesses that hinder their ability to grow and hire, eliminating the taxes levied against Nevadans for taking control of their own health care decisions, repairing elements of the law that have merit, replacing the broken pieces of the law with reasonable reforms, and strengthening Medicare. I look forward to advancing these bills in the wake of the court's decision.

"The Supreme Court had their word on June 28, but the American people will have the final word on November 6."

Background:

Prior to the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), Rep. Joe Heck spoke on the House floor about the law’s broken promises and his solutions moving forward as outlined in his bill, the Ensuring Quality Health Care for All Americans Act.

To see a VIDEO of Rep. Heck’s remarks, click the image below. Rep. Heck’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, are attached.

On the 2nd anniversary of the passage of the health care reform law, Rep. Heck introduced legislation to repeal PPACA and replace it with patient-centered reforms that increase access to care while repairing portions of the bill that have merit but need fixing. The bill, the Ensuring Quality Health Care for All Americans Act, tackles critical health care issues that matter to Americans, without adding bloated federal programs, cutting Medicare, or raising taxes.

Depending on the nature of the ruling, House Republicans will take appropriate action to address the critical issue of health care reform. Dr. Heck has been working with his committee assignments, House leadership, and the House Doctors Caucus to improve healthcare for Nevadans.

For more information on the Ensuring Quality Health Care for All Americans Act, click here.

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