H.R. 3590, the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act"
The nation’s historic health reform legislation, commonly referred to as the Affordable Care Act, is the consolidation of H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148, as amended by H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, P.L. 111-152.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Affordable Care Act will reduce the number of Americans without health insurance coverage by 32 million by 2019, increasing the percentage of insured non-elderly Americans from 83% to 94%. The Affordable Care Act accomplishes this by establishing a mandate for most residents of the United States to obtain health insurance; setting up insurance exchanges through which certain individuals and families can receive federal subsidies to substantially reduce the cost of purchasing that coverage; and significantly expanding eligibility for Medicaid.
Below are a number of documents that summarize how the legislation will benefit Americans. For more detaileds on how the legislation will improve the quality of care for every American, strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, and control costs, visit this page to download a series of fact sheets.
- Common questions and answers in the Health Reform Q&A
- Learn about the Immediate Benefits of Health Insurance Reform
On June 28, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.
Legislative History
In the first session of the 111th Congress, the Subcommittee on Health held five days of oversight hearings focused on making health care work for American families. The Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Subcommittee on Health also held three days of legislative hearings on a discussion draft of comprehensive health reform legislation.
On July 14, 2009, Rep. John Dingell of Michigan introduced H.R. 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act. On July 31, 2009, the Committee ordered H.R. 3200 favorably reported to the House, amended, by a roll call vote of 31 - 28. The Committee subsequently met in open markup session on September 23, 2009, to consider and adopt additional amendments.
No further action was taken on H.R. 3200 in the 111th Congress. The bill was superseded first by H.R. 3962, and then later by H.R. 3590.
On October 29, 2009, Rep. Dingell introduced H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. On November 7, 2009, the House passed H.R. 3962 by a roll call vote of 220 - 215. H.R. 3962 was eventually superseded by H.R. 3590. (In the second session of the 111th Congress, the Senate amended H.R. 3962 as the Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010, which became Public Law 111-192.)
On March 21, 2010, the House took up H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as passed by the U.S. Senate. The House passed H.R. 3590 by a roll call vote of 219 - 212, clearing the measure for the White House. On March 23, 2010, H.R. 3590 was signed into law by the President and became Public Law 111-148.
At the same time, the House considered H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, which amended financing and revenue provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The House passed H.R. 4872 on March 21, 2010, by a roll call vote of 220 – 211 and again, as amended by the Senate, on March 25, 2010, by a roll call vote of 220 - 207. On March 30, 2010, H.R. 4872 was signed into law by the President and became Public Law 111-152.
Webcast
Floor Actions
Markups
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Full Committee Markup of Amendments to H.R. 3200, the "America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009" (September 23, 2009) (Day 6)
Sep 23, 2009
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Full Committee Markup of H.R 3200, "America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009" (July 31, 2009) (Day 5)
Jul 31, 2009
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Full Committee Markup of H.R 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (July 30, 2009) (Day 4)
Jul 30, 2009
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Full Committee Markup of H.R 3200, "America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009" (July 20, 2009) (Day 3)
Jul 20, 2009
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Full Committee Markup of H.R 3200, "America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009" (July 17, 2009) (Day 2)
Jul 17, 2009
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Full Committee Markup of H.R 3200, "America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009" (July 16, 2009) (Day 1)
Jul 16, 2009
Hearings
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Hearing on "Comprehensive Health Reform Discussion Draft (Day 3)," Subcommittee on Health (June 25, 2009)
Jun 25, 2009
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Hearing on "Comprehensive Health Reform Discussion Draft (Day 2)," Subcommittee on Health (June 24, 2009)
Jun 24, 2009
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Hearing on "Comprehensive Health Reform Discussion Draft (Day 2, Part 2)," Subcommittee on Health (June 24, 2009)
Jun 24, 2009
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Hearing on "Comprehensive Health Reform Discussion Draft (Day 1)," Subcommittee on Health (June 23, 2009)
Jun 23, 2009
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Hearing on "Making Health Care Work for American Families: Saving Money, Saving Lives," Subcommittee on Health (April 2, 2009)
Apr 2, 2009
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Hearing on "Making Health Care Work for American Families: The Role of Public Health," Subcommittee on Health (March 31, 2009)
Mar 31, 2009
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Hearing on "Making Health Care Work for American Families: Improving Access to Care," Subcommittee on Health (March 24, 2009)
Mar 24, 2009
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Hearing on "Making Health Care Work for American Families: Ensuring Affordable Coverage," Subcommittee on Health (March 17, 2009)
Mar 17, 2009
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Hearing on "Making Health Care Work for American Families: Designing a High Performing Health System," Subcommittee on Health (March 10, 2009)
Mar 10, 2009
Documents
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"List of Organizations Expressing Support for Health Reform Legislation" (April 21, 2011)
Apr 21, 2011
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Congressional Budget Office Score of H.R. 2, Republican Legislation to Repeal the Affordable Care Act (February 18, 2011)
Feb 18, 2011
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Social Security Act, as amended through P.L. 111-192 (June 25, 2010)
Jun 25, 2010
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"Immediate Benefits of Health Insurance Reform" (May 3, 2010)
May 3, 2010
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Compilation of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (as amended through May 1, 2010)
May 1, 2010
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Compilation of Title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, and related provisions (as amended through May 1, 2010)
May 1, 2010
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Implementation Timeline of Health Insurance Reform (April 2, 2010)
Apr 2, 2010
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"What Health Insurance Reform Does for You" (April 2010)
Apr 1, 2010
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Fact Sheet: The Benefits of Health Care Reform in California (March 2010)
Mar 26, 2010
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"Health Reform Q&A" (March 24, 2010)
Mar 24, 2010
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Floor Statement of Chairman Henry A. Waxman on H.R. 4872, the "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act," and Senate Amendments to H.R. 3590, the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (March 21, 2010)
Mar 21, 2010
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Letter to the Honorable Louise Slaughter, Committee on Rules, from Committee Chairmen, regarding TRICARE (March 21, 2010)
Mar 21, 2010
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Congressional Budget Office Analysis of Health Care Reform Legislation: Updated (March 20, 2010)
Mar 20, 2010
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"Democrats Carry Out Open, Transparent Health Reform Debate" (March 19, 2010)
Mar 19, 2010
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"Four Key Points You Need to Know About the CBO Score" (March 18, 2010)
Mar 18, 2010
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Congressional Budget Office Analysis of Health Care Reform Legislation (March 18, 2010)
Mar 18, 2010
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Summary of H.R. 3590, the "Affordable Care Act" (March 18, 2010)
Mar 18, 2010
Press Releases
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Democratic Leadership, Health Law Authors Sign Amicus Brief Defending Use of Tax Credits on Federally-Run Marketplaces
Feb 18, 2014
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New Report: Debunking Republican Claims about Coverage Losses under the Affordable Care Act
Dec 31, 2013
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Ranking Members Waxman and DeGette Release Memo on Healthcare.gov Security
Dec 13, 2013
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Democratic Leaders Criticize Committee’s Failure to Conduct Fair Investigation into Healthcare.gov
Nov 19, 2013
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Ranking Member Waxman Calls on Committee Republicans to Correct Inaccurate Statements about Affordable Care Act Navigators
Oct 7, 2013
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Waxman, Levin, Pallone, McDermott: Defunding ACA Would Wreak Havoc on Medicare, Other Health Programs
Sep 19, 2013
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Energy and Commerce Democrats Release Investigative Findings on Affordable Care Act Navigators
Sep 18, 2013
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Ranking Member Waxman Objects to Groundless Republican Investigation of Civic Organizations Receiving Health Care Reform Navigator Grants
Aug 30, 2013
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Rep. Waxman Releases Top Ten List of Republican Efforts to Undermine and Obstruct the Affordable Care Act
Aug 1, 2013
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Top Economists Agree: Individual Responsibility Requirement is Crucial to Health Reform
Jul 17, 2013
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New Reports Show the Benefits of Health Care Reform in Every Congressional District
Jul 15, 2013
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Department of Treasury Letter Outlines Authority for Affordable Care Act Employer Mandate Delay
Jul 10, 2013
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Rep. Waxman Statement on Funding to Community Health Centers for Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
Jul 10, 2013
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Rep. Waxman Statement on First Anniversary of Supreme Court Decision on the Affordable Care Act
Jun 28, 2013
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Rep. Waxman Statement on HHS Report Finding Significant Affordable Care Act Savings for Consumers
Jun 20, 2013
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Rep. Waxman Releases Report on State by State Impact of Repealing the Affordable Care Act
May 15, 2013
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Committee Democrats Release Memorandum Criticizing Republican Staff Report on Impact of the Affordable Care Act
May 13, 2013
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Ranking Member Waxman Concerned by Chairman Upton’s Partisan Oversight of Obama Administration’s Health Care Law
Oct 11, 2012
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Ranking Member Waxman Releases Reports on Benefits of Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles County
Sep 24, 2012
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Rep. Waxman Statement on the Supreme Court’s Decision on the Affordable Care Act
Jun 28, 2012
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Ranking Members Waxman and DeGette Statement on Republican Investigation of Organizations Advocating for the Affordable Care Act
Jun 8, 2012
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Democratic Staff Circulates Memo to Democratic Members of the Committee on the Role of PhRMA in Passage of the Affordable Care Act
May 31, 2012
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Ranking Members Waxman and DeGette Criticize “Fundamentally Misleading” Republican Affordable Care Act Analysis
Apr 26, 2012
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Supreme Court Amicus Brief on the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid Provision
Feb 17, 2012
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Supreme Court Amicus Brief on the Affordable Care Act's Minimum Coverage Provision
Jan 13, 2012
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Rep. Waxman’s Statement on Court of Appeals' Ruling on Health Care Reform
Aug 12, 2011
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Backgrounder: CBO Analysis of Republican Repeal Agenda
May 27, 2011
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CBO Estimate: H.R. 1213 Cuts Money at the Expense of Low and Moderate Income Americans Being Able to Access Insurance
May 2, 2011
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Republican Resolution Harms Health Care Reform
Apr 14, 2011
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CBO and the Office of the Actuary Take on Republican Myths at Energy and Commerce Hearing
Mar 30, 2011
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Reps. Waxman and Pallone: Affordable Care Act Reduces Costs and Protects Beneficiaries
Mar 30, 2011
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New GAO Report Highlights Importance of Health Care Reform Law’s Medicare Drug Savings for Seniors
Mar 14, 2011
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Democratic Analysis Highlights Major Flaws in Upton-Hatch Report on Medicaid Expansion
Mar 1, 2011
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Democrats Counter Unsubstantiated Claims made by Republicans about Waiver Process
Feb 17, 2011
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Waxman: Committee Requests Should be "Tailored to Our Legitimate Oversight Needs"
Feb 4, 2011
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Waxman Questions Chairman Upton’s Oversight Approach
Feb 3, 2011
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Chairman Waxman’s Statement on Federal Court’s Ruling on Health Care Reform
Jan 31, 2011
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New District by District and Metro Area Analysis of the Impact of Repealing Health Reform
Jan 18, 2011
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Tri-Committee Chairmen Decry Republican Efforts to Repeal Health Care Reform
Jan 4, 2011
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Chairman Waxman's Statement on District Court’s Ruling on Health Care Reform
Dec 13, 2010
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CalPERS: Health Reform Has Already Helped Our Enrollees This Year
Dec 10, 2010
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District by District Information on Donut Hole Rebate Checks Sent to Seniors
Oct 25, 2010
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Committee Leaders Respond to 2011 Medicare Advantage and Part D Report
Sep 21, 2010
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Trustees Report Highlights Benefits to Medicare from Affordable Care Act
Aug 5, 2010
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Waxman, Dingell, & Pallone Applaud New Patient's Bill of Rights
Jun 22, 2010
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Oversight and Investigations Hearing on the Impact of the Health Care Reform Law on Large Employers Cancelled
Apr 14, 2010
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Historic Health Care Reform Law will benefit California
Mar 26, 2010
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Energy & Commerce Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Impact of Health Care Reform Law on Large Employers
Mar 26, 2010
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Tri-Committee Chairmen Statement on Health Coverage for Children with Pre-Existing Conditions
Mar 24, 2010
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Historic Health Reform Approved
Mar 22, 2010
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Benefits of Health Care Reform, District by District Impact
Mar 20, 2010
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Chairman Waxman's Rules Committee Statement on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Mar 20, 2010
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Tri-Committee Chairmen Joint Statement on Introduction of Health Reform Bill to Provide Quality, Affordable Health Care for All Americans
Mar 20, 2010
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Waxman, Rangel, Miller Statement on President’s Health Reform Proposal
Feb 22, 2010
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