Insure 36 Million Additional Americans
Lowers Cost, Increases Choice and Ensures Quality Coverage for 96% of Americans

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Keith Ellison (D-5th Congressional District) voted for landmark health care legislation that passed the U.S. House of Representatives this evening making health care affordable for the middle class, provide security for seniors, and guaranteeing access to health insurance coverage for the uninsured – while responsibly reducing the federal deficit over the next decade and beyond.

“This is an historic moment in America. For the first time in our nation’s history, we are making health care a right of all Americans, and not a privilege for only those who can afford it,” Ellison stated.

“This is the change Americans have asked for. Like the landmark laws that came before it: Social Security, The Voting Rights Act, and Medicare – the Affordable Health Care for America Act will change the face of America for the betterment of all,” the Congressman said.

“This is over fifty years in coming. For fifty four years, Congressman John Dingell, the longest serving Member in the Congress has introduced a universal health care bill every year he has served – just as he did in the first year he was elected, 1955. And with good cause. America is the only major democracy in the world without a national health care program,” Ellison stated.

It shows:

• According to 2009 World Health Organization figures, America – the richest country in the world – ranks 45th in the world for infant mortality – just behind Cuba, and just ahead of the Faroe Islands. We were 43rd last year, 12th in 1960, and 21st in 1990! In an America without universal health care 6.3 infants die per 1000 live births. Thirty thousand infants die in an America without health care each year.
• Life expectancy at birth in an America without universal health care ranks only 47th in highest total life expectancy compared to other countries.
• According to the Health Affairs 2005 Journal, about half of the bankruptcy filings in the United States are due to medical expenses.
• For all of that, the United States currently spends twice as much on health care per capita ($7,129) than any other country…In 2005, according to the National Center for Health Statistics; the national health care expenditures totaled $2 Trillion!

“That is a broken system. We can do better, and this evening we did with the passage of the Affordable Health Care Act,” the Congressman from the 5th District said.

“This legislation ends insurance company discrimination by stopping insurance companies from denying coverage to Americans with pre-existing conditions. It also ends gender discrimination. Under the current system, women are charged up to 48% in premium costs than men. It ends senior discrimination by addressing one of senior’s top concerns by immediately beginning to fill in the Medicare Part D donut hole which will make prescription drugs more affordable,” Ellison stated. (SEE FURTHER REFORMS at this link: http://majorityleader.gov/docUploads/Top10FINAL.pdf).

“This is a good bill for America. It is a good bill for 5th District residents. For the families in the 5th Congressional District, the Affordable Health Care for America Act will:

• Improve employer-based coverage for 358,000 residents.
• Provide credits to help pay for coverage for up to 159,000 households.
• Improve Medicare for 76,000 beneficiaries, including closing the prescription drug donut hole for 8,600 seniors.
• Allow 21,100 small businesses to obtain affordable health care coverage and provide tax credits to help reduce health insurance costs for up to 18,400 small businesses.
• Provide coverage for 45,000 uninsured residents.
• Protect up to 900 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.
• Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and health care providers by $184 million.”

“I am proud to vote for the Affordable Health Care for America Act. As I have stated, it is reform that is long overdue. It is a good progressive bill. It has a public option. I am committed to working diligently to ensure that this legislation meets the goals of affordable and accessible health care for every American. I am deeply honored to be a part of this historic moment in the improvement of American lives,” Ellison concluded.