Pelosi Remarks at Press Conference Today on Health Care Reform and Medical Costs

Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Congresswoman Donna Edwards, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, and Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy held a press conference this afternoon in the Capitol on America's Affordable Health Choices Act and the reduction of crushing health care costs -- and mounting debt of Americans who already have health insurance. 

They were joined by four Americans -- Molly Secours of Nashville, Vernon Le Count of Freedom, Maine, Catherine Howard of San Francisco and Jaclyn Michalos of Norwood, Mass. -- who shared their experiences with our current health care system and medical debt. 

Below are the Speaker's opening remarks and closing statement.

Speaker Pelosi Opening Remarks.

'Here we are today, one day closer than we have ever been in history -- to enacting real health care reform. We've made great progress -- two of our three Committees in the House, one of the two Committees in the Senate, as you know, have reported out legislation and the other two committees are hard at work in doing their jobs.

'Today, we're going to hear real stories from real people about the impact that health care reform will have on their lives. For the American people, America's Affordable Health Choices Act will mean a cap on your costs, but no cap on your benefits.  A cap on your cost, no cap on your benefit. That represents real change.

'Today, we are joined by four Americans who have tried to work hard and play by the rules and have ended up with crushing health care costs and debt. Vernon Le Count from Freedom, Maine, with tens of thousands of dollars in medical debt because of his health insurance had a waiting period and a high deductible.  Molly Secours of Nashville, Tennessee, whose medical debt from uterine cancer could result in foreclosure on her home. Catherine Howard of San Francisco, California, and Jaclyn Michalos of Norwood, Massachusetts, who both beat cancer but had radically different experiences with their health insurance.

'America's Affordable Health Choices Act takes a number of steps to ensure that when Americans face a health crisis, they also don't face a financial crisis. Consumers will have more choices, so they can find plans without waiting periods and high deductibles. There will be an annual limit on out-of-pocket expenses and no lifetime limits on care. There will be no more co-pays or deductibles for preventive care that can catch devastating illnesses in time. And if you change your job or lose your job, or have pre-existing medical condition, you cannot be denied coverage.

'I'm now pleased to introduce our Caucus Vice-Chair Xavier Becerra. Xavier serves on the sub-committee of the Ways and Means Committee that is helping leading the health insurance reform package.  He's been a very valued member of our Caucus and in leadership on the issue.'

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Speaker Pelosi Closing Statement.

'As you have heard, our Members of Congress have had experience in their lives and in their families and they have acted upon them in a public policy way. Our guests here today have been very generous; the generosity of their sprit, the eloquence of their words, sharing their stories with us speaks more eloquently to the need for this health care reform than anything that we can say as policymakers.

'I speak on behalf of all of our colleagues in the Congress and I thank you for your courage in coming forward and sharing your stories. That takes us to where we go next, which is to respond to your challenge for us to pass this sooner rather than later. That is our intention.

'I want to thank Congressman Becerra, Congresswoman DeLauro, Congresswoman Edwards and Congresswoman Kilroy for being with us. I know that they all want me to again, acknowledge the eloquence, the generosity and the presence of our special guests here today. Thank you so much.

'We'd be pleased to take any questions.'