I listened to all sides of the issue; I read everything that I could; and, I prayed for guidance.
I deeply believe that Congress has an obligation — constitutional and moral — to provide for the general welfare of every American. Allowing a broken health system to bankrupt families, businesses and hospitals, and deny coverage to tens of millions, is a failure of duty.
This historic legislation offers the best opportunity to fix a broken health care system. I voted to approve the legislation because these reforms will slow the growth in out-of-control costs, introduce competition into the health insurance marketplace, protect people’s choices of doctors and health plans, and assure Americans access to quality, stable and affordable health care.
When this bill is signed into law, every American will have the confidence in knowing that they will never again be denied coverage because of diabetes, asthma, pregnancy or anything else an insurer declares as a ‘pre-existing condition.’
For middle-class working families, it will mean having coverage that can be depended upon. When people change jobs, lose their jobs or decide to start a business, they will be able to find affordable coverage in a competitive marketplace.
For seniors, it will mean Medicare has been strengthened and improved. These reforms protect access to doctors, encourage Medicare physicians to cooperate on higher-quality care, lengthen Medicare’s solvency and brings an end to the “donut hole.”
Many small businesses will qualify for tax credits covering up to half the cost of employee health insurance, and businesses with up to 100 employees could join the health insurance exchange and benefit from group rates and a greater choice of insurers.
When signed into law, many of the reforms will immediately take effect. Among those changes are: