Altmire Statement on President Obama's Speech on Health Care Reform

September 9, 2009

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire (PA-04) released the following statement tonight after President Barack Obama addressed a joint-session of Congress on health care reform. Congressman Altmire voted against the current health care legislation that is being debated by the U.S. House of Representatives when it was considered in the House Education and Labor Committee in July.

“Tonight, President Obama made a persuasive case for why we need to reform our nation’s health care system. Now, it is in Congress’s hands, and we must put together a bill that preserves what works in our current system while fixing what does not work.

“Today, all too often Americans who get sick are forced to pay higher premiums or lose their health insurance altogether. Health care costs are rising at an unsustainable rate, and it is jeopardizing the financial wellbeing of families, small businesses and the government.

“It is my hope that Congress will put together a bill that will improve health insurance coverage and lower health care costs over the long term, without hurting small businesses or raising income taxes.”

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