Titus Announces Support For Health Care Reform

Floor Speech

Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada's Third District announced today that she intends to vote in support of legislation that will amend and improve the Senate-passed health care bill.

"For nearly a year, I have talked with the people of District Three about the need for health care reform," Titus said. "I have heard horror stories from small business owners who had to lay off workers because of rising health care costs and families that could not get insurance because of a pre-existing condition. While the legislation the House will vote on this weekend is not perfect, it makes critical reforms that provide common sense rules of the road that will give families and small businesses more control over their health care -- not government bureaucrats or insurance company CEOs."

"From the beginning, I have said I support legislation that reduces costs, strengthens Medicare, and increases choice," Titus continued. "This legislation meets those goals, and where flaws still exist, I will continue to push for additional reforms. This bill will make real progress by preventing insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, closing the donut hole for prescription drugs, and giving families and small businesses the largest health care tax break in history."

Titus had expressed concern about the Senate health care bill and wanted to see key changes to the legislation to benefit the Third District. The changes that have been included in the bill are closing the donut hole, removing special deals for certain states, changing the "Cadillac tax" so that it goes into effect later and has a higher threshold, and stronger consumer protections against discrimination for pre-existing conditions.

"During this process, the people of District Three have seen a barrage of ads paid for by special-interest money from insurance companies and those that benefit from the status quo," said Titus. "I have always made my decisions based on what I believe is in the best interests of the people of District Three; and even in the face of more than $1 million of special-interest ads, this time is no different."

"There is no doubt that the process that has been used by both Republican and Democrats in the past is seriously flawed," added Titus. "I understand the public's frustration and I share that. But ultimately my vote on the substance of this bill will be in favor of reform that will lower health care costs for Nevada families, strengthen Medicare for Nevada's seniors, and increase the competitiveness of Nevada's small businesses."

The Congressional Budget Office has determined that the health reform plan will cut the federal deficit by $138 billion in the first 10 years and $1.2 trillion in the second 10 years. Despite some of the misinformation that has persisted, the bill will provides people with the same kinds of health care choices that Members of Congress have and does not provide health insurance for illegal immigrants or include death panels.

In the Third District, health reform will:

* Improve coverage for 637,000 residents with health insurance.
* Give the largest middle-class tax cut for health care in history, providing assistance for up to 213,000 families and 16,700 small businesses to help them afford coverage.
* Improve Medicare for 120,000 beneficiaries and close the prescription drug donut hole.
* Guarantee that 20,900 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage.
* Extend coverage to 107,000 uninsured residents.
* Allow 72,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents' insurance plans.
* Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and other health care providers by $27 million annually.

Source