Slaughter Has Front Row Seat as Long Awaited Health Care Reforms Become Law

March 2010

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-28) attended the White House signing ceremony where President Obama’s signature solidified the most sweeping reform of our health care system since the implementation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.

Joined by colleagues in the House and the Senate, Slaughter had a front row seat to the most historic expansion of coverage in more than 40 years.

“I am bursting with pride,” said Slaughter who has been a key player in the passage of the legislation. “Today’s historic signing does more than extend coverage to at least 30 million Americans without it. It makes sure the millions of Americans with coverage, and 338,000 of my constituents, cannot be dropped from their plan because they get sick or change jobs. Because of today’s historic signing 85 cents out of every dollar you spend on premiums must go towards health care, not administrative costs, but making you well.”

The bill signed into law today guarantees the following:

• Insurance companies will be barred from discriminating based on pre-existing conditions, health status, and gender.
• New health insurance Exchanges will make coverage affordable and accessible for uninsured individuals and small businesses.
• Small businesses will receive a tax credit to help pay for health insurance for their employees.
• Uninsured Americans with a pre-existing condition will have access to an immediate insurance program to help them avoid medical bankruptcy.
• Medicare will improve as benefits remain the same and waste is eliminated from the system saving taxpayers millions.
• The Senate is expected to take up the Reconciliation package, which makes many improvements, including closing the Medicare donut hole, reducing costs for middle class Americans, and removing special deals like the so-called “Cornhusker Kickback.”

On Sunday, the House passed both pieces of legislation. No Republicans voted for either bill.