March 21, 2010
Baucus Hails House Passage of Comprehensive Health Reform, Will Work to Improve Bill in Senate this Week
Historic Legislation Passed by Both Senate and House Heads to President’s Desk for Signature into Law
Washington, DC – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D?Mont.) hailed House passage today of the Senate-passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and a sidecar bill to improve the legislation. House passage of this historic legislation, along with President Obama’s signature, will enact into law health reform that provides access to quality, affordable health care for Americans and controls health care costs. Baucus vowed to work this week in the Senate to pass the sidecar legislation to improve the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
“Too many families and small businesses in Montana and across America have struggled with the instability created by our broken health care system. Today’s passage of health reform means Americans will not have to wait any longer for meaningful health reform that will end insurance company abuses, lower costs and increase choice and competition for consumers,” said Baucus. “Today’s House vote is not the end, but it is a momentous step forward. We have now enacted into law the affordable health system America needs to be competitive in the 21st century global economy. Working with President Obama, this Congress has made tremendous progress to build consensus on how to make our health care system more affordable and sustainable for families, businesses and the federal budget. I am confident we can enact into law legislation to improve the bill.”
The Senate’s comprehensive health reform bill combined with the fixer bill will make the health care system more coordinated and efficient, resulting in lower costs and improved quality. Highlights include:
- Making health insurance more affordable
- Reducing the deficit and reining in health costs
- Stopping insurance company abuses
- Providing choice and competition
- Investing in small businesses
- Making Medicare more solvent and expanding prescription drug coverage
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