Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

For the first time Americans have the choice of affordable, quality healthcare coverage as a result of the historic healthcare legislation passed by House Democrats and signed into law by President Obama, this year.

According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the law provides coverage to 32 million more people, covering more than 94% of the American population, bringing the country closer to universal healthcare. This historic legislation will also reduce the deficit by $143 billion over the next ten years, with $1.2 trillion in additional deficit reduction in the following 10 years.

President Obama has long supported healthcare reform which will guarantee Americans stability, lower costs, better coverage and a greater choice of plans. The passage of the historic Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was the realization of one of his greatest ambitions and will help cover millions of Americans and put a stop to rampant insurance company abuses. On September 23, 2010, the Administration celebrated the six month anniversary of the new health reform law. It was also the day that the Patient's Bill of Rights went into effect.

I support a healthcare system that is affordable, universal, and driven less by profits and more by compassion and humanitarianism. I believe in a system of healthcare that is attentive to the medical needs of all and I believe in the need to invest in the research techniques and technologies that promise to one day cure age-old, debilitating diseases.

We should not play politics when our citizens' livelihoods are at stake. With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the American people, not insurance companies or the government, are in charge of their healthcare. Still, we must continue our effort to provide more coverage to those who are uninsured and better coverage to Americans throughout the United States.

Congressman Charles B. Rangel's Legislation:
The Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act (signed into Law)
During forty years in congress Congressman Rangel has worked hard to improve the availability of healthcare for all Americans. With the help of President Obama and Speaker Pelosi, The Affordable Healthcare for America Act was passed through the house and signed into law. The bill blends and updates the three versions of previous bills passed by the House committees of jurisdiction in July, and embodies President Obama's key goals for health reform.

Updated July 27, 2011

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