Washington,
Oct 31, 2007 -
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) scored a major legislative victory today by improving the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC). The HCTC passed the House of Representatives as part of the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act of 2007. The final vote was 264-157.
Kucinich, along with Congressman Peter Visclosky (D-IN), Members of the Congressional Steel Caucus, sent a letter to the Ways and Means Committee seeking to fix a loophole in the eligibility requirements of HCTC. The Committee agreed to fix the loophole in the Trade and Globalization Act of 2007. This Act extends trade assistance to workers who have lost their jobs because of outsourcing.
“This tax credit was created to ensure that constituents who lose good manufacturing jobs would still be able to afford health insurance for themselves and their families,” Kucinich said. “It is unjust for those who have lost these jobs to additionally endure lost or inadequate health insurance because it is unaffordable.”
Kucinich successfully sought greater eligibility coverage to ensure all spouses and widows receive the health care they need. The changes to the HCTC program close the unintended and unfair consequences of current law.
This loophole was first brought to Kucinich’s attention by his constituents who were negatively affected.
“The current eligibility requirements for the HCTC program leaves some spouses without assistance, which in far too many cases means being left entirely without health insurance,” Kucinich said.
“With the loss of about 3 million manufacturing jobs in the United States since 2001, many families know the effects of increased foreign imports and the outsourcing of their jobs all too well.”
