Washington, DC - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson released the following statement on the Senate Amendments to H.R. 3590 – the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and H.R. 4872 – the Reconciliation Act of 2010, which passed the House today by a vote of 219 to 212.

“For more than 60 years, we have fought to provide access to affordable health care for all Americans, and today the House has secured a historic vote to do so. The legislation we passed today will provide protections for those who have insurance, and a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for those who currently lack coverage.”

“In the 30th District of Texas, this bill will improve employer-based coverage for 264,000 residents and provide coverage for 200,500 uninsured residents.  It will improve Medicare for 71,000 beneficiaries including closing the prescription drug donut hole for seniors.  It will provide immediate support for people throughout the 30th District by prohibiting common insurance company practices of placing lifetime caps on coverage and of rescinding policies from people who get sick.”

“Insurance companies have held the public hostage for many years, controlling and rationing care. It is time to give citizens the right to control their own health care. I am proud to cast a vote in favor of this historic legislation.”

The American people will see the benefits of this legislation as soon as the President signs it into law and in the months following.

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.