Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel delivered his opening statement at the beginning of the mark-up on H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act, on Thursday. Rep. Engel is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, one of three committees considering the bill, and serves on the Health Subcommittee.

Rep. Engel said, "While I have long been a supporter of single payer legislation, and I am an original co-sponsor of H.R. 676, United States National Health Insurance Act, which advocates for a single payer system, I support the plan to include a strong and robust public option which fulfills commitments made by this Congress and President Obama to reform health care. The America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 will provide comprehensive, quality health coverage to the 47 million Americans currently without insurance, while minimizing the costs for everyone else.” Rep. Engel recently met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to urge the inclusion of the public option in the legislation.

To view Rep. Engel’s comments from today’s committee hearing, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN2fKJ3rcz8