November '09 Nevada Government

Titus Supports Landmark Health Care Legislation

Reduces Cost, Increases Access for Southern Nevadans

Washington, D.C. – Nvember 7, 2009 – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District voted today in support of landmark health care legislation that will reduce costs, improve access, increase choice, and strengthen Medicare. H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, passed by a vote of 220-215.

“Today, the House took a giant step toward making health care reform affordable and accessible for more people in Southern Nevada and across the country,” Congresswoman Titus said. “For the past six months, I have traveled around the district talking with my constituents, listening to their concerns at town halls and Congress on the Corners. I had roundtable discussions with doctors, providers, and small business owners so I could fight on their behalf for critical changes in the final bill.”

“The legislation the House passed today will help make our small businesses more competitive by reducing the burden they face due to rising health care costs,” Titus added. “It will give all Nevadans peace of mind by banning the insurance industry practice of discriminating against people with preexisting conditions. And this bill will benefit seniors by beginning to close the donut hole that leaves them paying high out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs and by reducing waste in Medicare that drives up the cost of premiums.”

The Affordable Health Care for America Act, which has been endorsed by AARP and the American Medical Association, includes an important amendment offered by Titus that increases the benefits for small businesses. Titus’ amendment increases the size of a small business that can enter into the Health Insurance Exchange and join together to purchase insurance at a lower cost. Titus also fought to change the limits on a surcharge to protect small businesses by increasing the threshold at which households must pay the surcharge from $280,000 to $500,000 for individuals and $350,000 to $1 million for couples. Under this higher threshold, 98.8 percent of all employers will pay no surcharge.

Other key provisions of the bill include eliminating co-pays for preventive services, permitting states to enter into agreements to allow for the sale of insurance across state lines, and allowing young adults to remain on their parents’ policy until the age of 27. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill will reduce the deficit by $30 billion over the next 10 years.

“With Nevada families and small businesses suffering under the weight of rising health care costs, the status quo is no longer acceptable. I believe the legislation passed today will make great strides toward reforming our broken health care system and giving Nevadans the assurance that they will have the coverage they need at a cost they can afford,” Titus concluded.

Titus: Health Care Reform Will Strengthen Small Businesses so They Will Be Critical Engines of Growth

Washington, D.C. – November 7, 2009 – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District spoke today on the House floor in support of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Below are her remarks as delivered.

“For more than six months, I have discussed the need for health care reform with my constituents, and time and again I heard from small business owners who are struggling to afford health care coverage.

“Over the last decade, the average health insurance premium has more than doubled for Nevada small businesses, and without comprehensive reform, Nevada small business health premiums are projected to again double over the next decade. And this year alone, small businesses across the country are being hit with a 15 percent average increase in premiums.

“It is clear that the status quo is unacceptable and unsustainable.

“I had concerns about earlier versions of this bill, but I am pleased that H.R. 3962 before us today is significantly improved and takes important steps to help make health insurance more affordable.

“I worked to raise the income level at which people are assessed a health care surcharge—and the new threshold is significantly higher, up from $350,000 for couples to $1 million. This means that 98.8 percent of all small business will be exempt from paying any surcharge.

“The bill also now exempts small businesses with payrolls below $500,000 from the employer mandate. That means that 86 percent of all employers are exempt. And many small businesses that choose to offer insurance to their employees will be eligible for a tax credit to help off-set those costs.

“I am especially proud that the provision I championed to expand the Health Insurance Exchange so that more small businesses can participate was included and strengthened in this bill. This will ensure that small businesses have additional options for purchasing health insurance at a lower cost.

“All of these improvements combined will strengthen small businesses so they will be critical engines of growth in our community. It’s time small businesses knew who really stood up for them and cared about them and their employees. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and stand up for small businesses.”

Titus Votes to Extend Unemployment Benefits and First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

Washington, D.C. – November 5, 2009 – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District voted today in support of important legislation that extends both unemployment benefits for Southern Nevadans during this tough economic time and the first-time homebuyer tax credit which has given a boost to Nevada’s struggling housing market.

“With Nevada’s unemployment at record levels, it is critical that we continue to make job creation a top priority,” Congresswoman Titus said. “But while we work to bring good jobs to Southern Nevada, extending unemployment benefits will help people ride out this economic storm, and for many families it can make the difference between losing a home to foreclosure and getting back on their feet. A vital component to our economic recovery is ending the foreclosure crisis that has swept Nevada. The first-time homebuyer tax credit included in the Recovery Act’s largest package of tax cuts in history, has helped stimulate Southern Nevada’s housing market and this important extension will further boost its effects.”

The legislation, which passed with broad bipartisan support, will provide families in all states with 14 weeks of additional benefits and six more weeks to the 27 states with the highest unemployment rates, making workers in these high unemployment states like Nevada eligible for a total of 20 additional weeks of emergency unemployment compensation.

In addition, the bill includes an extension of the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit through April 30, 2010, and provides a $6,500 credit to new purchasers who have lived in their current residence, for five years or more. It also helps military families struggling to make mortgage payments by making those payments tax-exempt. A study by the National Association of REALTORS shows that in Nevada the tax credit will bring an estimated 18,300 additional buyers into the market and 45,800 first-time buyers will be able to take advantage of the tax credit.

Finally, American businesses that have suffered large losses during the recession will benefit from a provision to allow U.S. companies to carry back losses incurred in either 2008 or 2009 against income earned in any of the five prior years.