March 21, 2010

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Votes in Favor of Affordable Health Care for America
Will Provide Hard Working Americans With Quality and Affordable Health Care

(WASHINGTON, DC)– Today, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-6), Senior Member of the House Committee on Financial Services and Chairman of its Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade, voted in favor of Affordable Health Care for America. This critical legislation will ensure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care and significantly reduce long-term health care costs. In addition, this bill will provide coverage to 32 million more Americans and reduce the deficit by $143 billion over the next ten years, with $1.2 trillion in additional deficit reduction in the following 10 years.

“By passing this bill we have taken the essential steps in providing all Americans the access they need and deserve to proper health care. I am extremely pleased to have voted in favor of this bill that will improve coverage for 377,000 constituents in the Sixth Congressional District and provide coverage to 54,000 of my constituents who aren’t insured.  This bill will also guarantee that 12,300 residents in my district with pre-existing conditions can obtain the necessary health coverage and protect 600 families in my district from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs,” stated Congressman Meeks.

This bill also provides Americans the ability to make informed decisions about their healthcare choices. Under the provisions of this bill consumers will be provided information about physician ownership of hospitals and medical equipment companies, as well as nursing home ownership and other characteristics.
In addition, this bill also makes key investments in America’s health care workforce. This legislation provides the proper resources for training doctors and nurses and other healthcare providers and addresses the overall shortages in primary care. Also, this bill will invest in scholarship and loan repayment programs through the National Health Service Corps to expand the health care workforce. Additional incentives will also be provided for primary care practitioners and for providers to practice in underserved areas.

“This historical legislation that was passed today will lower healthcare costs for low and middle income Americans, prevent insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, health status and gender, and provide Americans with the necessary tools and resources to make better informed decisions about their health care choices. I look forward to working with President Obama and my colleagues in Congress to providing affordable and quality health care for all Americans in this country,” stated Congressman Gregory Meeks.

Now serving in his sixth full-term, Meeks was elected to the House on February 3, 1998. Representing New York's Sixth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, Meeks' district covers all towns of Southeast Queens, Far Rockaway and Howard Beach. He is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.  Congressman Meeks is the Chairman of the International Monetary Policy & Trade Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee.  He is a Member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), New Democrats Coalition and the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC).  He serves as the Co-chair of the Malaysia Caucus, Services Caucus, Dialogue Caucus, OAS Caucus and the Middle East Economic Partnership Caucus.

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