Nov. 7, 2009 (PR Newswire) --
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor today in support of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. The House will vote on the legislation later tonight. Below are the Speaker's remarks.
"Madam Speaker, today, as we all know, is an historic moment for our nation and for American families. For nearly a century, leaders of every party and political philosophy -- as far back as Teddy Roosevelt -- have called for health care for the American people. For generations, the American people have called for affordable, quality health care for their families. Today, the call will be answered. Today, we will pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
"This legislation is founded on key principles for a healthier America: innovation, competition, and prevention. It improves quality, lowers cost, expands coverage to 36 million more people and retains choice. Our innovation began in the recovery package in January -- with $19 billion for health IT, the first step in lowering cost and improving quality, and $8 billion investments in biomedical research. This legislation will mean affordability for the middle-class, security for our seniors, and honors our responsibility to our children, adding not one dime to the deficit.
"For all Americans, this legislation makes a big difference: no discrimination for pre-existing medical conditions, no dropped coverage if you are sick, no co-pays for preventive care. There is a cap on what you pay in but there is no cap on the benefits that you receive. It works for seniors closing the donut hole, offering better primary care, and strengthening Medicare for years to come. It works for women preventing insurance companies from charging women more than men for the same coverage. No longer will being a woman be a pre-existing medical condition.
"It works for young people, offers affordable choices, and ends co-pays for preventive care to stop problems before they start and allows young people to stay on their parents' premium until their 27th birthday. It works for small business owners providing access to affordable group rates and creating a tax credit for them to help them insure their employees. It works for consumers keeping the insurance companies honest and encouraging competition with a public option. This legislation puts you and your doctor in charge. No longer will the insurance companies come between you and your doctor.
"President Obama has said that health care reform is entitlement reform. And this legislation proves that point. It is fiscally sound, it is paid for, and it reduces the deficit by tens of billions of dollars over the next 10 years.
