REP. BECERRA VOTES FOR HISTORIC HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today the House of Representatives passed historic health insurance reform legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Reconciliation Act of 2010, to improve and expand health coverage while reducing the federal budget deficit. Representative Xavier Becerra (CA-31), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, voted for the legislation.
Before today’s vote, Rep. Becerra delivered the following remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives:
“Today is a day of history. Today we will accomplish what one hundred years of congresses could not. We will pass health care reform, not just for some, but for most Americans.
“Today is also another day in America. That means that 123 Americans will die today because they do not have health insurance. Another 8,000 will lose their health insurance today and our health care system will cost all of us $6.8 billion this day and every day if we do not change, if we are content with doing nothing.
“John F. Kennedy once said, ‘change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.’ I have heard it said another way. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery.
“Today this house, the people’s house, is full of life. We will make history, but our sights are toward the future. To every hardworking, taxpaying American we say today: we hear you—we see it in your eyes, you want control of your health care, you want to decide who your doctor is. You want to choose your health plan. We will deliver today to all of America.”
The health reform legislation passed today will cut the deficit by $143 billion over the first ten years, and $1.2 trillion over the next ten years while extending coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans.
