Politics

A Healthier America

By Karina

This morning, Speaker Pelosi met with President Obama, Vice President Biden, Leader Hoyer, and Chairmen Rangel, Waxman, and George Miller on health care reform.

In the last eight years, health care premiums have doubled while wages have remained stagnant and every year for the past eight years, one million Americans lost their health insurance — leaving 46 million Americans currently uninsured. Comprehensive health care reform that cuts costs, expands access to coverage and improves quality of care is a top priority for President Obama and Congress.

As President Obama said today, “our health care system is broken. It’s unsustainable for families, for businesses. It is unsustainable for the federal government and state governments.” The need to act is clear and the time to act is now. Today, Speaker Pelosi announced that the House will pass legislation to offer affordable health care to all Americans before the end of July. Watch:

Speaker Pelosi’s remarks:

Good morning. Thank you, Mr. President.

We just completed a very productive meeting with the President, including our leader, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, our three chairs of the committees of jurisdiction, who are working together, in unison, on quality, affordable, accessible health care for all Americans: Mr. Rangel of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Miller of the Education and Labor Committee, and Mr. Waxman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Our goal is to have a healthier America. Our legislation will be on the floor by the end of July ? I am quite certain ? and that is really cause for celebration for the American people.

The President’s commitment to making our country healthier ? again, with affordable, accessible and quality health care, where every person, if he or she likes the plan they have, can keep that plan. Also recognizing that health care reform is entitlement reform, and this is about cost ? taking down the cost of health care to the Americans, to our economy and to our budget.

So, it?s a very important day. We?re grateful to the President for his leadership. We couldn?t possibly be at this point without that leadership and we promise him that we will have this important legislation on the floor of the House before the August break.

Thank you Mr. President for your leadership.

Full post as published by The Gavel on May 13, 2009 (boomark / email).