Before going out of session yesterday, the Senate failed to pass an extension of benefits.  Chairman Levin noted,   the only reason this extension has not passed the Senate in recent days is because there could not be found more than two Republicans to vote for this extension. Chairman Levin noted that:

Senate inaction leaves 1.2 million unemployed workers without benefits by the end of the week

During debate on legislation to block a 21 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors, Chairman Levin blasted Senate Republicans for obstructing H.R. 4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, job-creating legislation which includes both Medicare physician payment provisions and an extension of critical unemployment benefits for millions of Americans who have lost their job through no fault of their own: 

“They [Senate Republicans] are willing to put politics before people, and they are leaving millions of unemployed workers thrown out of work by this recession through no fault of their own, without their unemployment insurance benefits,” said Levin. “Instead, they seem willing to let loopholes that permit jobs to be shipped overseas continue to remain open. Republicans, in a word are saying to the American people that they care more about their political futures than they do the daily lives of millions and millions of Americans. We will not let that stand. We will continue to stand on is the side of seniors and the physicians who treat them, on the side of unemployed workers and their families. On the side of millions who are looking for jobs. On the side of youth seeking employment. And on the side of those who would benefit from tax measures and bond measures that are supporting millions of jobs.

- by Lauren Bloomberg

The Affordable Care Act ensures that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care through landmark reforms to the system and the shared responsibility of businesses, the government and individuals.  The new law will provide coverage to 32 million more Americans while reducing the deficit by $143 billion over the next ten years, with $1.2 trillion in additional deficit reduction in the following 10 years.