WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and the House co-author of both health insurance and student loan reforms, released the following statement after President Obama signed the health insurance reform bill into law. This week, the Senate will vote on a second measure that will make critical corrections and improvements to what the President signed and also make the single largest investment in federal student aid ever, at no cost to taxpayers.
“Today marks a milestone in American history. This law takes a historic and dramatic first step to put families and small businesses back in control of their own health care, end insurance company abuses, and ensure all Americans have access to quality, affordable, secure health insurance.
“One last vital step remains in order to fully deliver on the changes for which Americans have waited nearly 100 years. The Senate must now join the House in passing a companion measure that will significantly improve this new law by making coverage more affordable for families, strengthening immediate benefits and protections for consumers, and making the law fairer for all of the American people.
“The companion measure also includes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stop wasting $61 billion of taxpayers’ money subsidizing banks in our student loan programs, and instead use that money to directly help students pay for college and reduce the deficit. Insurance companies and banks are now waging a last-ditch effort to kill both reforms in the Senate. Senators cannot allow special interests and their lobbyists to drown out the voices of the students, workers and families who overwhelmingly support this last piece of reform. I urge them to pass and send this bill to President Obama as quickly as possible.”
More information on these additional improvements to the health reform law.
More information on the student loan reform piece of this legislation.
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