Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Johnson voted to pass key improvements to our historic health care reform law. The reconciliation bill, which now goes to the President for his signature, makes health care even more affordable for the middle class, lowers prescription drug costs for seniors by closing the “donut hole” over time, and reduces the deficit even more than the original bill. The package of improvements, which passed the House and Senate today, stripped out special deals that favored one state over another. This bill also makes an historic investment in student aid to help American families and students pay for college.

“I supported the reconciliation bill because these improvements will finish the job of reforming health care in America and provide immediate benefits to Americans in my district and across the country,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “Health care will become more affordable for middle class families, and seniors will get better deal on prescription drugs. I am pleased to say this saves taxpayers more money in what is the largest deficit reduction measure in nearly two decades.”

The reconciliation bill includes the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) — the single largest investment in college aid in history. It will change the way the student loan system functions by originating all new loans through the government’s Direct Loan program, but will maintain competition among private lenders and non-profits to provide top-notch customer service for student borrowers and save American jobs. By reforming the federal student loan system, taxpayers will save $61 billion over 10 years while expanding access to an affordable college education to more American students and building a world-class community college system.

“Students and families can now borrow more affordably and apply for larger Pell Grants,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “This law will strengthen our community colleges and minority-serving institutions, and help ensure that we have the most highly skilled, cutting-edge and effective workforce in the world.”

The reconciliation bill now goes to President Obama for his signature, to improve upon the historic reforms he signed Tuesday.

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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.