We just witnessed history being made.
For the first time ever, a comprehensive health care bill has passed both Houses of Congress. The bill will give health care to 32 million Americans and help to save over 30,000 lives per year. And it will finally put an end to some of the worst insurance industry abuses so that never again will they deny you care for pre-existing conditions, charge you more if you’re sick, put limits on your benefits, or increase rates with impunity.
It was close, but the House pulled together the votes in the face of vicious opposition. Vermont’s own Rep. Peter Welch helped to make that happen, so it’s important that we thank him for having the courage to stand with us and stand up to the powerful special interests that lined up against reform. The bill is far from perfect. But it is one of the most significant pieces of legislation passed by Congress in decades. Every American will be covered under the toughest patient protections in history. Arbitrary premium hikes, insurance cancellations, and discrimination against pre-existing conditions will soon be gone forever.
And we’ll finally start reducing the cost of care — creating millions of jobs, preventing families and businesses from plunging into bankruptcy, and removing over a trillion dollars of debt from the backs of our children.
We’ve got much to do and that starts with thanking those who helped to make this victory possible. Your work and that of our allies around the country brought this bill back when most declared it dead. This is a system we can build on – starting right here in Vermont.
