U.S. House Releases America's Affordable Health Choices Act

Statement by California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski

 

“Today’s release of the House of Representatives bill, ‘America’s Affordable Health Choices Act,’ marks an important first step to fixing our nation’s broken healthcare system. With leadership from the California delegation of the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor Committees, 6 million uninsured Californians and millions more in our state who are underinsured or paying too much for coverage have fresh hope for a better tomorrow.

“Californians understand the need for comprehensive health care reform better than most. We’ve been leading the fight to reform the system for years. The House plan achieves many of the goals we’ve fought for in California, and is in line with President Obama’s vision for a comprehensive fix. It provides real choices that will expand access to quality care, reduce the number of uninsured and bring runaway costs under control. It has a high-quality public health insurance plan that will benefit everyone by offering real competition to private insurance. Like President Obama’s proposal, it won’t be financed on the backs of working families.

“Californians overwhelmingly support reforming our broken system. We urge the House of Representatives to move forward with this proposal, and we thank the members of the California delegation who pushed this solution. We call on Congress to act boldly and with urgency to deliver the relief that so many in our state and around the country desperately need.”

 

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