Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) released the following statement regarding the health care reform package to be debated in the House this weekend. Rep. Engel had voted “YES” on the House-passed health reform legislation in July, but was hesitant to support the Senate-passed bill because it would adversely affect New York’s economy and ability to continue delivering health care coverage to low-income families. A video of Congressman Engel’s announcement on MSNBC today of his commitment to vote “YES” can be viewed here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfHacBIrykI

“I reviewed the language in the reconciliation package, and how it alters the Senate-passed bill. I am finally comfortable in saying that New York is receiving fair and equitable treatment. I could not in good conscience vote for any legislation which would have crippled a struggling New York economy.

“I have always been an ardent supporter of health care reform; in fact, I have been a long-time co-sponsor of the single payer plan. I still believe a robust public option would have made this legislation much stronger and helped millions more Americans afford to obtain or retain health care coverage. Absent that, this imperfect bill is still a monumental leap in the right direction. Now that New York was provided fair and equitable treatment, the benefits long outdistance the setbacks in this legislation.

“Health care makes up one-sixth of our nation’s economy, and according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, this legislation will enable health care coverage for 95 percent of Americans, and reduce the deficit by $138 billion in the first 10 years, and by an additional $1.2 trillion from 2020-2030. That is more deficit reduction than either the House or Senate bill, and much, much better coverage than the Senate bill. For my district, it will result in 400,000 people having improved health care coverage, and enhance Medicare for close to 100,000 beneficiaries by closing the donut hole created in the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.

“I initiated a meeting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi on behalf of the New York State delegation once it became apparent that New York was in danger of losing $1 billion annually, based on the Senate bill, according to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York Governor David Paterson’s calculations. I am pleased that as a result of that meeting, and many conversations with the White House, alterations to the bill were made to benefit not only New York, but other states that have done the right thing over the years and provided exceptional Medicaid programs. I would like to express my gratitude to my Congressional colleagues, to Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Paterson and everyone else involved in helping to work out this compromise. The strength of the New York delegation was evident in the final version of the reform bill, as it ensures that all our constituents have access to comprehensive, affordable health insurance for the first time in our nation’s history.

“I urge my undecided colleagues to vote for this legislation. A vote for health care reform is a vote for affordable health care for the middle class, for better health security for seniors, and actual health care coverage for the millions of uninsured who could not afford it.”
The bill text can be viewed on Rep. Engel’s website - http://engel.house.gov/