July 28, 2017 - Latino Leaders Applaud Senate’s Rejection of “Skinny Repeal” Bill

LATINO LEADERS APPLAUD SENATE’S REJECTION OF “SKINNY REPEAL” BILL

NHLA remains firm in opposing any efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 45 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, applauds Senators Collins, McCain, and Murkowski and the Democratic Caucus for rejecting the most recent attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

NHLA has repeatedly urged Congress to consider the devastating impact any effort to repeal the ACA would have on the Latino community and our nation as a whole, most recently in a letter to the Senate earlier this week. By voting no, these Senators demonstrated just how critical it is to set aside politics when the health and safety of the people of this nation are at stake. While this vote is encouraging, NHLA stands firm in opposing any form of ACA repeal and urges the Senators who voted in favor of the “Skinny Repeal” to carefully examine damaging effects another vote for repeal will have on our nation’s people, economy, and overall well-being.

“We applaud Senators Collins, McCain, and Murkowski and the Democratic Caucus for placing people first in their decision to vote against the “Skinny Repeal” bill. Providing access to quality and affordable health care for the people of our nation should not be a political decision. People’s lives in the Latino community, communities of color, and across the country are being threatened by the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. We recognize that last night’s vote does not mean the fight is over, but we hope that Congress will continue to act based on people’s needs, and not on political expediency,” Hector Sanchez Barba, Chair of NHLA and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

“We at the National Hispanic Medical Association look forward to working with the US DHHS on improving the ACA, the law of the land, to provide more outreach to health insurance and culturally competent health and behavioral health care for Latino families in all our communities,” said Dr. Elena Rios, Co-Chair of NHLA’s Health Committee and President and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association.

“It is a relief that the Latino community, low-income people, and communities of color can continue to access Medicaid and Planned Parenthood for quality healthcare. This tremendous victory would have never been possible without the Senators and activists that have relentlessly fought back against the GOP’s shameful attempts to play politics with our lives. We will continue to stand strong as we advocate and bring voice to the need to expand healthcare coverage, not deny it,” said Ann Marie Benitez, Co-Chair of NHLA’s Health Committee and Senior Director of Government Relations at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.

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ABOUT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AGENDA

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda is composed of 45 of the leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy organizations and other elected officials, and prominent Latinos Americans. NHLA coalition members represent the diversity of the Latino community – Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Latino Americans. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latinos around the country to provide the Latino community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Latino leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit: www.nationalhispanicleadership.org.

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