Blog Post
Blog Post
November 23, 2009
A new Gallup poll released today underscores the urgent need for comprehensive health insurance reform. Americans surveyed overwhelmingly identified access to care as the 'most urgent health care problem' facing the U.S. today for the third straight year in a row (32%). High health care costs were also cited as a pressing problem -- ranking second on the list with 18%.
Blog Post
November 23, 2009
Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi held a brief press availability this evening with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of the Republic of India before their meeting in the Capitol. Pelosi extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to address a joint meeting of Congress during a future visit to the United States. Below are their remarks:
Blog Post
November 19, 2009
“I want to join you in acknowledging the important work that USO has done for our troops, for our men and women in uniform, and for when they come home. This event reflects the mission of the USO to bring our troops a little closer to home wherever they are, to boost the morale of our service members and to strengthen the bonds between our armed forces and the American people."
Blog Post
November 19, 2009
Today, the House is debating the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act (HR 3961), companion legislation to the Affordable Health Care for America Act which will permanently reform the way Medicare pays physicians. The bill prevents a 21% cut in Medicare physician payment rates scheduled for January 2010 instead of temporarily overriding the cut as Congress has done six times before.
Blog Post
November 19, 2009
“Strengthening Medicare for generations to come is essential to our efforts to reforming health care for all Americans. This legislation will permanently improve the way Medicare pays physicians and in doing so, guarantee that America's seniors will continue to have access to excellent care through Medicare."
Blog Post
November 19, 2009
This week, Senator Reid and other Senate leaders introduced their merged health reform bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Speaker Pelosi said this morning, "I like what I see in their bill.
Blog Post
November 18, 2009
Some commentators are repeating misinformation about the provisions of the recently-passed Affordable Health Care for America Act. For example, on Meet the Press earlier this month, commentator David Brooks said:
Blog Post
November 18, 2009
Senator Robert Byrd's remarkable life is defined by service to his state and to his country. Over the course of his momentous career in the House and the Senate, he has not simply witnessed moments of political progress, he has stood at the forefront of legislative achievements that have improved the lives of millions of Americans.
As Congress' foremost scholar on the Constitution, Senator Byrd has used the legislative process to advance the common good. He has spoken truth to power when needed, stood on principle when no one else would, and knew when to compromise when the time came.
Blog Post
November 18, 2009
“The Senate health insurance reform bill is an encouraging development in our drive to make affordable, quality health care available to all Americans. House Democrats look forward to a constructive debate in the Senate and to working together to achieve historic reforms that will make health care more affordable and strengthen our economy.”
Blog Post
November 17, 2009
It's no secret that the rising costs of health care are straining the wallets of Americans, the balance sheets of our businesses, and the long term health of our federal budget. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey earlier this year found that a majority of Americans, or a member of their household, have delayed or skipped health care in the past year. Prescription drugs are no exception--Kaiser found 29% did not fill a prescription for medicine and 18% cut pills in half or skipped doses.