WASHINGTON - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) provided the following statement explaining his vote for H.R. 3962, The Affordable Health Care for America Act.  The House passed the bill today by a vote of 220-215.  Once the Senate has completed action on its own bill, it is expected that a conference committee of representatives from each body will negotiate compromise legislation which will need to be adopted by the House and the Senate before reaching the President's desk for signature.

"The House has taken an important first step today to improve the affordability and accessibility of health care.  While today's health care legislation is not perfect, action to address this important issue is absolutely necessary.  If we do nothing to reform health care, health care costs are expected to double over the next ten years, just as they have over the last ten years. 

"Insured Americans pay on average $500 per year just to administer health insurance, more than double the administrative costs paid in any other country which has a government-run health care system.  The McKinsey Global Institute estimates that $91 billion a year is wasted on excessive insurance administrative costs. 

"Because about 60% of all Americans under the age of 65 receive insurance through their employers, much of this waste is burdening American companies.  American companies competing in the global economy cannot afford this economic disadvantage.  The bill we voted on today attempts to reduce the costs of insurance to employers and employees by providing greater competition among insurers.  According to a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a family of four would save $1,260 in annual health insurance premiums once this bill is enacted.

"It is estimated that 96% of all Americans will have access to affordable health insurance under this bill.  While I believe that caring for our fellow citizens is a moral imperative, it also makes economic sense to have as many people covered by insurance as possible.  Families USA estimates that every insured American family pays over $1000 per year in premiums just to cover the medical expenses of the uninsured, who obtain urgently needed health care through inefficient means such as visits to hospital emergency rooms.  As we face the threat of pandemics such as the current swine flu, it is in the best interest of all of our health to make sure that sick people are treated quickly and affordably so that infectious diseases are not spread.     

"While there are many detailed provisions in this complex legislation, it is important to note what the bill does not do.  The only effect it will have on senior citizens who rely on Medicare is it will reduce their out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs, as noted by AARP in its recent endorsement of the bill.  The bill does not use tax dollars to pay for abortions.  It does not require our smallest businesses to pay for insurance coverage for their employees.  It will not result in the federal government controlling the delivery of health care; in fact, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that only six million Americans will choose to enroll in the government-sponsored insurance plan, the so-called "public option."  It does not add to the federal deficit.  CBO estimates that the bill will reduce the deficit by $109 billion over the first ten years.  

"Finally, I want to praise the House leadership for including in this bill a provision which will help to fund the education of the next generation of doctors, some of whom I hope will be educated by our region's own medical college.  

"We all share the goal of keeping American citizens healthy in the most humane and efficient means possible.  I believe this bill is a reasonable first step toward reaching this goal."

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