Tierney On Passage Of Health Insurance Reform Legislation

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Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John F. Tierney (D-Mass.) made the following statement in response to passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) which passed the House by a vote of 220 to 215.

"Access to quality affordable health care is essential to all Americans; not a privilege. For far too long this country has allowed insurance corporations to dictate our doctors' orders. This bill puts our most personal decisions - the ones that affect the very livelihood of our loved ones - back into our own hands. Discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, gender and other unfair criteria will now end. Private insurance companies will no longer be able to stop coverage just when it is needed most, nor will they be able to rescind care once you are being treated. The companies will finally have to spend more of our premium dollars on actual medical services instead of inflated executive salaries and bonuses. If you lose your job, or desire to create your own innovative career, you no longer need to fear your family will be uninsured."

"This is the closest our nation has ever come to comprehensive reform - and I can't help but think of what this moment would mean to our good friend, Senator Ted Kennedy. In honor of his ferocious attention to this issue, I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take swift action on this matter."

For more information on the bill the Congressman has posted the full text of the bill, the Manager's Amendment, as well as additional fact sheets under his Health Care Clearinghouse on his website at http://tierney.house.gov.

Source: Rep. John F. Tierney