Congressman Paul D. Tonko Floor Statement in support of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act November 7, 2009

2009-11-08T04:54:53Z

Thank you M. Speaker. I am here to speak in support of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, one of the most important pieces of legislation this body has considered since the passage of Medicare in 1965 and Social Security in 1935.

M. Speaker, every member of this body has been listening to her or his constituents, and they are saying that they are ready for health insurance reform; they need health insurance reform.

We listened when seniors said they wanted better care from their doctors and the donut hole eliminated. This bill does that.

We listened when young adults told us they were having trouble finding insurance and wanted to stay on their parents’ insurance until age twenty-seven. This bill does that.

We listened when the uninsured told us heartbreaking stories about going without needed health care and asked us to give them affordable, quality health insurance. This bill does that.

We listened when the insured told us they were paying too much for insurance and they needed more protections for their health insurance. This bill does that.

Our colleagues on the other side of the isle have not listened. They are offering a substitute bill that would not accomplish any of the things our constituents have asked for. Instead, they are offering a bill that does not end the discrimination based on preexisting conditions; does not reduce the number of uninsured Americans; does not offer assistance to those struggling to afford health insurance; does not repeal the anti-trust exemption for health insurers; and does not stop price gouging by insurance companies. Our bill does all these things and more.

M. Speaker, the Affordable Health Care for America Act not only brings quality health care within reach of tens of millions of Americans, it enhances the care that those with insurance and Medicare already receive. This bill is as much about the insured as it is about the uninsured. It is a monumental bill and I urge defeat of the Republican substitute and passage of H.R. 3962.

Rep. Tonko Floor Speech on Youth in Health Care Bill October 15, 2009

2009-10-15T14:38:24Z

Thank you, M. Speaker. On Tuesday, Speaker Pelosi announced an important new addition to our health insurance reform package – young adults will be able to remain on their parents’ health insurance plans until their 27th birthday.

Young adults make up one third of the entire uninsured population, numbering 13.7 million. Only 53 percent of young adults are even eligible for employer-based insurance and 51 percent do not have health coverage through their jobs. Young adults have the highest rate of injury-related emergency department visits and 15 percent have a chronic health condition. Half are overweight or obese, 9 percent have been diagnosed with depression or a related condition, and the highest prevalence of Human Papilloma virus, which has been linked to cervical cancer, is among women aged 20 to 24. Young adults experience 6 preventable deaths each day due to lack of health insurance.

This is clearly an age group that needs health insurance, but young adults are among those least likely to have access to coverage. Allowing them to remain as a dependent on their parents’ health insurance plans will bring quality health insurance within reach for millions of young adults, who otherwise would have lost that coverage. I am proud to support this provision, and the overall health insurance reform bill, which will not only bring affordable coverage within reach of young adults, but of all Americans.

Thank you, M. Speaker, and I yield back.