Stupak Attends Signing Of Health Care Reform Bill

Statement

Historic legislation to provide 32 million Americans with access to affordable health care was signed into law Tuesday during a ceremony at the White House. U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee), who has long advocated for health care reform, attended the signing as an invited guest of President Obama.

Under the new health care reform legislation, H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 44,000 uninsured residents of Michigan's First Congressional District will gain access to affordable health care. An additional 364,000 residents in northern Michigan will receive improved health insurance coverage under the legislation.

Stupak released the following statement after the bill signing ceremony:

"This legislation provides 32 million uninsured Americans with access to affordable, quality health care while putting in place critical consumer protections and cost savings for those Americans who already have health insurance. I was proud to vote for this bill and I am honored to have been invited to participate in the president's bill signing ceremony -- a truly historic event for our nation.

The reforms in this legislation are long overdue. It is unconscionable that insurance companies continue to put profits ahead of the health and well-being of their policyholders. This legislation provides key consumer protection reforms within the next six months assuring Americans with health insurance that their policy will be there for them when they need it. Parents of children with long-term illnesses will not be forced into bankruptcy because of lifetime caps on coverage that run out long before an illness has been treated, and individuals with pre-existing conditions will no longer be denied access to health insurance policies. Parents will also be able to keep their children on their health insurance policy until age 26, ensuring many young Americans continue to have access to health care when they are first starting out on their own.

There have been contentious moments throughout the process of passing health care reform for all Americans, but today we came together to celebrate the signing into law of H.R. 3590. This legislation is not perfect, and there is still work to be done. After a century trying to reform health care in this nation, we finally have a law that will ensure for the first time nearly every American has access to quality, affordable health care."

Source