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PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

March 21, 2010
Floor Statements
March 21, 2010

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia: M. Speaker, America has been debating health care for over 100 years. During this recent debate, we have heard complaints, and blame, and misrepresentations, and slogans, and even name-calling, and today we finally get to discuss the bills.

First, the bills will provide affordable health care insurance to over 30 million Americans who are uninsured today, including those with pre-existing conditions.

These bills will provide security to those who have insurance – because 14,000 Americans will no longer lose their insurance everyday. And others will no longer have to watch their cost of insurance skyrocket every year.

And insurance companies will no longer be able to cancel policies or stop making payments in the middle of an illness. No longer will those with health insurance have to pay co-pays for preventive services or go bankrupt because the bills provide affordable limits on co-pays and deductibles.

And because the legislation will provide affordable insurance to virtually all Americans, families with insurance will not have to pay extra, $1000 a year, to offset health care costs for those who show up at hospitals without insurance.

Seniors will no longer fall into the donut hole.

Our youth will be able to stay on family policies until they are 26.

Small businesses will see significant savings in health insurance costs, because they will purchase insurance with the same price advantage as large businesses, and many small businesses will receive temporary tax credits.

Now that's what's in the bill. And it is more than paid for. CBO projects significant savings during the first 10 years and huge savings in the next 10 years.

M. Speaker, future generations will look back at the votes we cast today, just as today we look back at the votes on Social Security and Medicare. Those future generations will see that we proudly voted in favor of health care for all.