Sens. Menendez, Kaine, Cortez Masto, Along with NHLA, NCLR, and NLIRH, Highlight the Devastating Effects the Senate GOP Health Care Bill Would Have on Latino Communities and Call for Continued Opposition Against the Bill

WASHINGTON, June 29 -- The office of Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., issued the following news release:

Today, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) were joined by the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, NCLR's Institute for Hispanic Health, and National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH) to highlight how Senate Republicans' attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would disproportionately affect the Latino community and significantly roll back the progress Latinos have made under the ACA. Despite the Senate GOP delaying a vote until after the July 4 recess, the Senators and Latino advocacy groups called for continued momentum against the disastrous bill.

"By now, we all know that the Republican health care plan is bad news for pretty much everyone except millionaires and health insurance executives. And while opposition from millions of Americans forced them to delay a vote on their cruel bill, this fight is far from over. That is why we rallied today: to remind Republicans that the Latino community greatly benefitted from the Affordable Care Act and we stand ready to defend it," said Senator Menendez, the highest ranking Latino in the U.S. Congress. "This bill may be delayed, but it's not yet defeated. In the coming weeks, we must fight even harder, and speak out even louder. We must stop this assault on America's working families and our communities of color, because we refuse to go back to a time when health care was a privilege granted to those who could afford it rather than a right afforded to all Americans."

U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), the first Latina elected to the Senate, said, "One of the dangerous consequences often overlooked by the Republican plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act is its disproportionate impact on minority communities," said Cortez Masto. "With over a quarter of Nevadans identifying as Latinos, the Latino community has been integral part of our economy and society. Thanks to the ACA, Latino Nevadans have made significant gains and improved access to health care, with Latino children experiencing the largest decrease in uninsured children of any state in the country. But Republicans are committed to repealing the law and taking away essential services that programs like Medicaid and Planned Parenthood provide, risking both basic and life-saving access that Latino communities rely on. These consequences affect more than just Latinos. Expanding access to healthcare for all Americans despite age, gender or race will provide our communities with the support they need live a healthy life, and to continue to contribute meaningfully in our communities."

"I have one message for the members of the Senate: step up and do your job to protect the interests of the people of this nation. The Senate's so-called Better Care Reconciliation Act is yet another example of Congress failing to consider the needs of all people. This bill is no improvement on the House bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, as it would create further obstacles for those who are most vulnerable in the Latino community and across the nation. As we have seen from the Congressional Budget Office projections, 22 million individuals will lose coverage. We urge the members of the United States Senate to consider these consequences and reject the Senate's bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act," said Hector Sanchez Barba, Chair of NHLA and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

"The delayed vote on the Senate GOP proposal is a direct result of the actions of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and showed up to town halls across the country to demand their elected leaders protect their access to health coverage," said Rita Carreon, Deputy Vice President, NCLR Institute for Hispanic Health. "But by no means is this the end; there's no doubt that the efforts to repeal the ACA will continue, and so all of us must continue to do our part to ensure healthcare isn't stripped away from the over 70 million Americans, 18 million of whom are Latino, who rely on Medicaid. This bill is an attack on our children and families, and is an excuse to give away massive tax breaks to the wealthy at the expense of the majority of Americans."

Marie Del Castillo, Associate Director of Community Mobilization, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health said, "The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH) denounces the disastrous ACA repeal bill for what it is: the greatest threat to health equity that we've seen in the past decade. The devastating, long-term impact it will have on women of color's health, economic security and progress cannot be underscored enough. By decimating the Medicaid program, defunding Planned Parenthood, eroding the essential health benefits - among other dangerous provisions - the ACA repeal bill is actively denying our community coverage and putting the lives of millions of Latinas at risk," said Margie Del Castillo, associate director of community mobilization for the NLIRH. "Be it now or after recess, no amount of changes can fix it. We urge the Senate to kill this bill before it's too late."