RANKING MEMBER SHAHEEN: THE INTENT OF THE ACA IS CLEAR

(WASHINGTON, DC) – This morning, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee (SBC), made the following statement after the SBC held a hearing on the King v. Burwell case before the Supreme Court and the potential impact a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs could have on small businesses. The plaintiffs argue that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) only allows health care premium subsidies for individuals who purchased a plan on a state-run exchange.

“As someone who voted for the Affordable Care Act, I can tell you that the intent of the law is clear: it provides all Americans with access to affordable health insurance, regardless of the state in which they live,” said Shaheen. “And while this law isn’t perfect, the Affordable Care Act is working for the millions of Americans – including tens of thousands of Granite Staters— who now have access to affordable health care coverage. Since there has been no real discussion of a viable replacement of the law—and there has been no decision yet from the Court on King v Burwell—I believe this hearing is premature.  The Senate Small Business Committee would better serve America’s small businesses by considering legislation that delivers real solutions to the problems faced by small business owners.”