Congressman Pascrell Announces His Support For Health Insurance Reform Legislation

Press Release

With the final House vote on health insurance reform expected to be taken over the weekend, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8) announced his support for health care reform legislation in a telephone press conference from his congressional office today.

"It's time to do what no Congress has done," said Pascrell, a House Ways and Means Committee member who hosted more than 1,200 people at his town hall meeting at Montclair State University in September. "While this bill is not everything I want it to be, we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. We can no longer tolerate Americans living in fear of losing their health insurance because they get sick or lose their job. The upcoming vote will ensure that every American has the security of quality health coverage they can afford."

Among the reasons the congressman cited for his support of health care reform are the following:

A direct impact on the Eighth Congressional District:
* 116,000 families and 15,200 small businesses will received tax credits and other assistance to make health insurance more affordable
* 91,000 Medicare beneficiaries will have improved coverage, including closing the "donut hole" in their prescription benefits
* 71,000 uninsured residents will receive coverage

A historic reduction in the national deficit:

* The proposed legislation represents the greatest deficit reduction measure passed by Congress in 17 years, saving over $1.3 trillion over the next 2 decades.

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