Rep. Cleaver Comments on Supreme Court Decisions

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 26, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II released a statement on two historic rulings from the Supreme Court: the decision to affirm the availability of tax credits under the Affordable Care Act to individuals in States with a federal healthcare exchange, in King et al. v. Burwell, Secretary of Health and Human Services, et al.; and the decision to affirm the use of disparate impact claims under the Fair Housing Act in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs et al. v. Inclusive Communities Project, Inc. et al.

“The Supreme Court has said it again and again: The Affordable Care Act is the law of the land,” said Congressman Cleaver, II. Today’s decision saves lives. The ACA is helping millions of Americans focus on their families, jobs, and quality of life, instead of worrying about what will happen if they and their family members get hurt or sick. Now I am no lawyer—I am simply a United Methodist preacher. Even I can tell you, the text, structure, and history of the law have always been crystal clear on this: tax credits are available to all eligible Americans, regardless of whether they live in a State that chose to set up its own Exchange or, in a State, like Missouri, that chose to let the Federal government set one up for it. As the majority opinion states, ‘Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them.’ Some political partisans have been trying to eke out a victory against President Obama and Congressional Democrats, at the expense of people’s health, well-being, and wallets. Today’s decision protects 6.4 million Americans across the country and 200,000 in Missouri from suffering. It is a victory for us all.

“In another ruling, the Supreme Court has now affirmed that equal opportunity in housing continues to be one of our most cherished values. Today’s Texas Housing ruling upholds the use of disparate-impact claims under the Fair Housing Act, which allows renters and homeowners to prevent and contest harmful and unfair housing policies. We are fortunate in 2015, in that overt and officious racism is now considered odious and ostracizing. But by no means are we a perfect or post-racial society, nor will we be anytime soon. Banks, landlords, and other housing providers should apply policies fairly to everyone. When they use policies that sound neutral in theory, but have an unfair impact in practice, we should be able to challenge that. The Supreme Court has now affirmed that we can.”

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and also a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.

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