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Representative Xavier Becerra (CA-31), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, released the following statement:
“Today we took a historic vote in the House of Representatives and passed meaningful health insurance reform for almost every American. This legislation will mean affordability for the middle-class and security for our seniors. It honors our responsibility to our children, by not adding one single dime to the deficit.
“Health care reform is critical to securing the economic future of our nation and bringing peace of mind to families like the ones in my district, which has the second highest rate of uninsured residents in the country. Our bill accomplishes this by reducing costs, improving coverage and preserving our choices of doctors, hospitals and health plans. Earlier today the president urged us to be on the right side of history. It is a glorious night to write a page of American history and that’s what we did.”
Rep. Jerrold Nadler Statement in Support of Health Care Reform. Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), a leading proponent of the public option, spoke out in favor of H. R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, when it was considered by the House of Representatives.
"Madam Speaker, I have spent much of my adult life fighting for greater health care rights and universal health coverage. This bill, H.R. 3962, makes great strides toward achieving those goals.
“Around the country, we see millions of people with inadequate or no coverage, with another 14,000 Americans joining the ranks of the uninsured each day. We see families who go to sleep at night knowing they are one serious illness away from bankruptcy, the reason for 55% of all bankruptcies filed last year. We see the rising ranks of the unemployed who face going it alone in the prohibitively expensive individual coverage market – or worse, going without insurance at all. And we see 20,000 people die every year because they have no health insurance.
“At the same time that this stark reality hits hard working Americans, insurance companies have conspired to keep costs high. These costs, upward of 15-35% squandered on outrageously high administrative costs, do nothing to make people healthier but do much to line the pockets of insurance companies and help their corporate bottom line.
“This is unacceptable. We must take action. That’s why I support the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
