November 7, 2009

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Votes In Favor of House Health Care Reform

(WASHINGTON, DC)– Today, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks and his colleagues in the House of Representatives voted on and passed HR 3692, “The Affordable Health Care for America Act,” the House healthcare reform legislation that proposes to ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable healthcare. 

“Passage of this bill puts us steps away from beginning to repair our broken health care system,” Congressman Meeks stated, “ I am proud to have voted for this bill that will help to pay for coverage for 132,000 families in the 6th District and to finally provide much needed health insurance for the 60,000 uninsured 6th CD residents.  For the 377,000 of my constituents who get their health care coverage through work, I voted to free them from unjustifiable rate increases and to insure that neither the government nor their employer nor their insurance company can force them to have to change their health care plan. I voted to help the 6,400 seniors in my district that are in the Medicare part D prescription drug donut hole by cutting  it $500 right away,  and closing the donut hole completely over time.  I voted to ensure the long-term viability of Medicare, including Medicare Advantage and for improved services for those on Medicare.  And for our country, my vote went to reduce the deficit by $104 billion,” stated Congressman Meeks.

The final version of the Senate healthcare reform bill has not yet been released and it is unclear when the Senate will debate and vote on that bill.  If that Chamber’s version is passed, the House and Senate bills will have to be reconciled in conference into one document which will be voted on again by both Chambers.  If passed, it will then be presented to President Obama to be signed into law.   

“The House bill we passed embodies President Obama’s goals for healthcare reform, lowering costs for our families and businesses, providing security for our seniors, and protecting our children in a fiscally responsible way that actually brings down the deficit,” said Congressman Meeks. “I am hopeful that Senate Democrats will prevail and pass a bill that adheres to the same protections, coverage and savings that we insisted on in the House bill,” stated Congressman 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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