Congresswoman Matsui Joins President Obama for Signing of Historic Health Care Legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 23, 2010

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163

Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D Sacramento) joined President Obama and Democratic Congressional leaders for the signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House of the historic health insurance reform legislation that will provide access to quality health care for American families and seniors at a price they can afford.

It is a privilege to join President Obama and my colleagues for the signing of this critical piece of legislation that will make a difference in the lives of my constituents and of millions of Americans around the country, said Congresswoman Matsui. After hearing from thousands of people across Sacramento, I had the honor of casting a once-in-a-generation vote that finally reforms our health insurance system and puts patients first. The legislation signed by the President today will improve health care for 365,000 Sacramentans with health insurance, while providing coverage to 58,000 Sacramentans who are currently without health insurance.

H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, was passed by the House of Representatives on March 21. A separate bill, H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 which makes important improvements on the previously passed Senate bill is now being sent to the Senate for final passage. Together, these two pieces of legislation, both of which Congresswoman Matsui supported, comprise a health insurance reform package that will make critical improvements to our nation's health care system, and in doing so will reduce the national deficit by $143 billion in the first 10 years. It does so by controlling health insurance costs for families struggling in uncertain economic times, improving Medicare for the benefit of millions of seniors, reducing the national deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars, and putting an end to abusive insurance company practices such as lifetime spending caps and coverage barriers for those with pre-existing conditions. For small businesses, this legislation will help lower the premiums they pay to provide their employees with health coverage.

At its core, this bill is about expanding access to health care and putting American's health before insurance companies profits, added Matsui. That is why I have fought so hard to deliver this reform for Sacramento.

For comprehensive information on the health insurance reform legislation signed-by President Obama and supported by Congresswoman Matsui, including downloadable fact sheets, please visit: www.matsui.house.gov/healthcare

To watch Congresswoman Matsui's recent speeches in favor of the health insurance reform legislation as delivered on the House floor, please visit: www.youtube.com/RepDorisMatsui