Senate Introduces Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

For close to a century, Presidents and congressional leaders have debated ways to fix our health care system. Late yesterday the U.S. Senate introduced H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

“This is an historic moment where we have the opportunity to change the lives of the people in Virginia. We are changing a system that has left small businesses and hard working families at the mercy of corporate insurance interests,” said Nick Williams, Director of Virginia Change That Works.

Eleven days ago, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Now, the Senate has introduced their legislation, which is the next step in the process toward health insurance reform. Senator Reid listened to the American people and made sure this bill keeps insurance companies from controlling our health care system by guaranteeing choice and accountability through a public health care option.

This week 44,000 Americans lost their health insurance, 17,000 Americans were forced into bankruptcy because of medical debt and 400 people lost their lives because they lacked health insurance.

“The statistics speak to the crisis in our health care system, and it is nothing short of a national tragedy. We have worked and will continue to work tirelessly to make sure that every Virginian has the opportunity to be involved with health care reform,” said Williams.

The challenges facing our health care system - higher premiums, skyrocketing costs, and deeper instability for those with coverage - cannot be ignored. Today, thanks to the Senate's hard work, we're closer than ever to enacting solutions to these problems.