[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 10020-10021]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        KING V. BURWELL DECISION

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, nearly 12 million Americans, including 
500,000 Iowans--more than that, actually--now have access to affordable 
health coverage because of the Affordable Care Act, and many for the 
first time in their lives.
  We know what the health care law has meant in Ohio and across the 
country. Patients can't be dropped from coverage or charged higher 
rates just because they got sick. Also, 97,000 young Ohioans have been 
able to stay on their parents' health insurance until their 26th 
birthday, giving them the chance to focus on careers, education, and 
future plans. Lifetime insurance caps are no longer bankrupting people 
with chronic conditions. Those with preexisting conditions, such as 
children with diabetes and asthma, will no longer be denied coverage or 
charged higher premiums.
  But despite all of these successes, the Supreme Court of the United 
States is currently considering a case that can take affordable health 
care away from hundreds of thousands of Ohioans, tens of thousands in 
the State of Oklahoma, and millions of Americans.
  In Ohio alone, 161,000 people are at risk of losing access to 
affordable health coverage in the King v. Burwell decision that the 
Court will soon hand down. These Ohioans receive an annual subsidy of 
about $240 a month to help them purchase private insurance plans. That 
is an average of nearly $3,000 per person per year. Hard-working 
families stand to lose even more.
  Taking away those subsidies--as many of my Republican colleagues have 
pushed the Court to do--would amount to a massive tax increase on 
Ohioans already struggling to get by. These same Republican colleagues 
have not come up with a workable solution if the Court rules their way. 
They have pushed this case all the way to the Supreme Court only to 
leave 161,000 Ohioans and nearly 12 million Americans without access to 
affordable coverage.
  We know what this new access to health insurance has meant for 
families in my State. Let me read from a couple of letters.
  This spring I met with Jumaane Cook from Parma Heights and his 5-
year-old son James. Jumaane is 34 years old and has lived in Ohio for 
most of his life. He became insured for the first time in his adult 
life just last year when he purchased insurance for

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himself and his son on the Federal exchange.
  Jumaane was a college athlete but he tore his ACL in 2007. His injury 
left him unable to play sports, and his lack of insurance left him 
unable to afford treatment. Jumaane came to Washington to tell us how 
important the Affordable Care Act and his subsidy are to him and to his 
son. Because his employer doesn't offer health insurance, without the 
Federal subsidy Jumaane would be forced to go without insurance again 
and his son would have to go on public assistance.
  Jumaane is not alone.
  Rachael in Cincinnati wrote to me when the Supreme Court decided to 
hear the Burwell case. She and her husband ``have insured ourselves 
through individual insurance since 2008. It has been difficult and, at 
times, we have had to go without insurance simply due to the incredibly 
high cost of insurance in our area. We have paid our premiums every 
month. I will be fit-to-be-tied if I have to look for health insurance 
again. I was disappointed with what I could afford on the Federal 
exchange. And, I fear I will not be able to afford any insurance if I 
lose my subsidy.''
  Lisa in Athens wrote:

       I have been reviewing plans on Healthcare.gov. At my age--
     over 60, but not Medicare-eligible--the premiums are high, 
     even for the Bronze plans. It concerns me that a court may 
     rule that the subsidies are not available to those who access 
     the Federal exchange.

  That is why these subsidies exist--to help people such as Lisa afford 
coverage, regardless of where they live.
  Jim from Streetsboro, near Akron, wrote, saying that he is ``62, 
drawing a pension, on Social Security, and paying COBRA health care to 
the tune of $1,200 a month.'' Jim is looking forward to buying cheaper 
insurance coverage through the Federal exchange, which he should be 
able to afford. He wrote: ``At least that was the plan until someone 
decided to try and derail the ACA for the umpteenth time. If things go 
bad with this decision, please do all you can to remember those who 
have worked their entire lives''--to remember those who have worked 
their entire lives.
  What the Supreme Court could do, and what clearly most Republican 
Members of this body and the House of Representatives want the Supreme 
Court to do, is to strike this part of this law down so that 161,000 
Ohioans will either lose their insurance by losing their subsidy or pay 
increased fees--taxes in the years ahead.
  Connie in Cincinnati wrote to me after the lower court decision came 
down. She said the ACA has been ``a Godsend'' for her. Connie wrote:

       I believe strongly in the importance of having health care 
     and have recently qualified for a catastrophic health plan 
     with tax credits on healthcare.gov.
       As you know, Ohio is one of those States that opted out of 
     establishing its own State plans. That was not a problem 
     until yesterday. Now, facing a plan that may be ineligible 
     for the federal tax credit, I face a dire financial 
     situation.

  Connie says:

       I have willingly paid my fair share of taxes throughout my 
     life. My tax dollars helped bail out banks and automobile 
     corporations. I need my government to look out for me.

  The Supreme Court needs to hear from people such as Connie and Jim 
and Jumaane and Lisa and Rachael. These are hard-working Ohioans, most 
of whom have worked their entire life, but, unfortunately for them, 
have not worked for a company that has provided affordable health care. 
They have spent large chunks of their paychecks on health care, even 
with Federal subsidies. The Supreme Court should remember that before 
it takes away affordable coverage. That is a lifeline to these Ohioans 
and to so many millions of Americans.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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