Health care

Congressman Olver: “Most Important Initiative in My 19 years in Congress”

November 07, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Olver joined a majority in the House of Representatives in support of H.R. 3962, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. The bill passed 220 to 215.

Congressman John Olver said, “This is the most important initiative that I have seen in my 19 years in Congress. We have the most expensive health care system in the world, bar none. Yet our gold-plated system fails to achieve the most basic measures of health. There is clearly something wrong with this picture. Today, we’ve taken a very important first step to making affordable, quality health care available for all Americans.”    » read more »

November 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman John P. Murtha (PA-12) released the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives voted 220-215 to pass H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

“Health care costs are out of control and hurting our families, seniors, small businesses, and those with preexisting conditions. We have the best health care in the world if you can afford it, but every year more and more Americans cannot.

“For nearly a century, both Democrats and Republicans have failed to enact comprehensive health care reform. Today’s historic vote moves us closer to solving America’s health care crisis.”

Source: Congressman John P. Murtha

November 7, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) -- Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) commented on today’s historic vote on H.R. 3962, The Affordable Health Care for America Act, which passed the House of Representatives 220-215. The bill reforms the nation’s health insurance system to increase access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans.

“With the passage of the House version of health insurance reform legislation, we recognize the government has a moral responsibility to make sure its citizens have access to quality and affordable health care,” Congresswoman Moore said. “The health of a country’s population is absolutely critical to its productivity, and it’s about time that the United States got in the game.    » read more »

"Doing Nothing is Not an Option"

7 November 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell today, in order to keep the healthcare reform process moving forward, voted for of H.R. 3962, The Affordable Health Care for America Act. The bill passed by a vote of 220 to 215.    » read more »

Affordable Health Care for America Act Covers 96% of Americans, Reduces the Deficit

November 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Kendrick B. Meek today voted in favor of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, historic legislation that will provide needed insurance reforms for Americans with insurance, expand coverage for those who do not have insurance, lower costs for families and businesses, and begin to reduce the deficit.

"Today marks the culmination of generations of hard work and effort by those who have long sought access to quality, affordable health care. I am honored to be a part of this effort," said Congressman Kendrick Meek.    » read more »

House approves legislation by a vote of 220-215

November 7, 2009 -- Washington, DC – In anticipation of final passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962), Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-4) today entered the following Floor Statement into the Congressional Record:

Madam Speaker, today we are making history. Today the U.S. House of Representatives is making health care in the United States of America more affordable and more accessible for millions of our citizens. This legislation may not be perfect, but it is very good. It will make our country stronger, our economy more productive, and every American family healthier.    » read more »

11/09/09 -- CORNING, N.Y. - Today Congressman Eric Massa outlined his reasons for voting against H.R. 3962 on Saturday night. To summarize the specific votes: Rep. Massa voted for the rule of debate, against the Stupak Amendment and against final passage of the bill.

When H.R. 3962 was first introduced on Thursday, October 29th, Rep. Massa canceled his weekend schedule to read and review the legislation. Following seven days of studying the bill, consulting with experts and speaking with constituents, Rep. Massa announced his intention to vote against the bill.    » read more »

Washington, Nov 7 - Following the vote on H.R. 3962 in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Betsy Markey released the following statement:

After carefully reviewing this legislation and hearing from thousands of Coloradans across my district, I could not support this bill. This was not an easy decision to make, because I know only too well that America’s health care system is in dire need of reform.

This bill provides new coverage for millions of Americans, but it simply does not do enough to cut the health care costs that are crushing our businesses and families. It’s critical that we control rising health care costs, increase quality and value within our health care system, and improve access to health care and affordable health insurance coverage.    » read more »

November 7, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to the passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

Today, I joined a majority of my colleagues in voting to pass H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. This legislation is an honest commitment to quality, affordable health care for all Americans that will help contain our nation’s skyrocketing health care costs.    » read more »

November 7, 2009 -- Late tonight the U.S. House of Representatives passed an historic health care reform bill by a vote of 220 to 215 that will dramatically change the way health care is delivered in the United States. This bill will mean greater stability and lower costs for all Americans, including affordability for the middle class, security for our seniors and responsibility to our children. The Affordable Health Care for America Act will achieve these goals, covering 96 percent of Americans without adding a dime to the deficit.

The major benefits for Georgians will be:

* The improvement of employer-based coverage for 381,000 residents
* Coverage for 101,000 uninsured residents    » read more »

November 7, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement today after voting in support of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962). The bill passed the House by a vote of 220 to 215.

“There is no doubt that health care is costing our small businesses too much, our families too much and the federal government too much. The status quo is unacceptable. The Affordable Health Care for America Act will give hard working individuals and small businesses access to affordable health coverage, and give families and businesses some stability and security during these hard economic times.    » read more »

November 9, 2009 -- Now that the House of Representatives has had its historic 220-215 vote for health care reform, the battle of the news releases has resumed in earnest.

Supporters of the 1,990-page, $1.2 trillion plan have argued that the current situation leaves 15 percent of Americans without health insurance and unfairly discriminates against Midwest hospitals and clinics.

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, said, "Comprehensive health care reform is long overdue because the current system is unsustainable."

Kind and Minnesota 1st District Rep. Tim Walz, D-Mankato, had fought to change the way Medicare reimburses geographically - making more of a level playing field for Midwestern providers.    » read more »

November 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives to urge passage of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. This historic legislation passed the House by a vote of 220 to 215. The Congressman’s statement is as follows:

"I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

Choices regarding health care are some of the most personal decisions we make. The ability to choose one’s doctor and decide on a course of treatment with one’s physician is an undeniable American right, and so is access to quality affordable health care.    » read more »

November 9 -- Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur voted in favor of comprehensive health care legislation that passed the House by a 220-215 vote. “Affordable health insurance reform is necessary to cut the costs of doing business, reduce the share of government expenditures spent on health care, help our companies to be more competitive in the world market, unleash the entrepreneurial talents of the American people, and give peace of mind to the middle class and our seniors and others that everything they have worked for will not be taken away if they get sick," she said.    » read more »

November 7, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, DC) -- Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. is working hard to guarantee access to affordable health care for all of us. Dr. Kagen voted tonight for Affordable Health Care for America Act, the House health care reform bill.    » read more »