November '09 Nevada Government

The Reid Report November 20, 2009

Dear Fellow Nevadan,

This week, we took an important step toward reforming our health insurance system. I introduced the Senate bill (available online), which will cut our federal deficits by almost three quarters of a trillion dollars, extend guaranteed coverage to 98 percent of Americans, ban coverage limits and arbitrary termination of coverage, ban coverage exclusions for pre-existing conditions, provide tax credits to small businesses that cover employees, helps seniors afford prescription drugs and extend the solvency of Medicare.

Over the next month, we’ll consider changes and improvements to this bill on the Senate floor. But the central message is clear: this legislation makes it more affordable for every Nevadan to live a healthy life and it does so in a fiscally responsible way that helps our economy recover.

I have been working long hours on this health care legislation, but I have not lost focus on improving Nevada’s economy. This morning we learned that the unemployment rate in Nevada dropped slightly last month, which is welcome news and further evidence that Nevada is starting down the economic road to recovery. I know that thousands of Nevada’s families and businesses are still struggling, but that only makes our health reform efforts more vital.

Last week, the Business Roundtable released a report reaffirming that reform will lower skyrocketing health care costs for businesses. Their balanced analysis emphasizes what we’ve already known to be the case: our economy can’t afford for reform to fail. According to their report, passing reform this year could help lower the cost of health care for businesses by as much as $3,000 per employee within a decade. They also conclude that without reform, the skyrocketing health care costs that threaten American families will only continue to explode.

Thank you for reading this update. You can learn more about the bill by clicking any of the links in this newsletter or visiting my website.

Recommended Reading:

Las Vegas Sun, Long-sought, Harry Reid’s goal of health care reform a step closer

Las Vegas Review Journal, Provisions in health care overhaul bill address key issues

Financial Times, CBO Says Reid’s Health Bill Would Cut Deficit

Los Angeles Times, Reid Rolls Out Senate Healthcare Bill

Bloomberg, Reid $849 Billion Measure Widens Health Coverage, Cuts Deficit

Reid: Senate Health Reform Bill Extends Access To Millions In A Fiscally Responsible Way

November 19, 2009 – Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid delivered the following remarks this morning on the Senate floor to discuss The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was introduced last night. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

“We have traveled a great distance to get to where we stand today. With the bill we unveiled last night, we begin the last leg of this historic journey.

“The American people and President Obama have asked us for a health insurance reform plan that does two things above all else:

One, make it more affordable for every American to live a healthy life.

And two, do so in a fiscally responsible way that helps our economy recover.

“Well, Senate Democrats have listened, and we have written a bill that will save lives, save money, and save Medicare.

“Since yesterday evening the bill has been on the Internet for all to see. You can find it at democrats.senate.gov. But here’s a quick summary:

“As the President asked us to do, we will not add a dime to the deficit—quite the opposite, in fact: We will cut it by $130 billion in the first 10 years and by as much as three-quarters of a trillion dollars in the first 20.

“We do this by keeping costs down. This critical reform will cost less than $85 billion a year over the next decade—well under President Obama’s goal.

“We will make sure nearly every American can afford quality health care. We will make sure more than 30 million Americans who do not have health care today will have it soon.

“And we will not only protect Medicare, we will make it stronger.

“These numbers are as impressive as they are important to our nation’s future.

“And though we are proud of these figures, we can’t afford to overlook what this is really about. More accurately, we can’t afford to overlook who this is really about.

“This is about the parent who cannot take a child to the doctor because insurance is too expensive. That’s why we’re making sure every American can afford good coverage.

“This is about the small business in Nevada that had to lay off employees because it couldn’t afford skyrocketing health care premiums. That’s why we’re cutting those small businesses’ taxes.

“This is about the woman with high cholesterol, or the man with heart disease, or the child with hay fever who can’t get help. That’s why we’re stopping insurance companies from deciding they’d simply rather not give health care to the sick.

“This is about the family who has to make the terrible choice between its mortgage and its medications. When this bill passes, the only choice they’ll have to make is which insurance policy offers them the best coverage.

“This is also about our mothers and sisters and wives and daughters who can’t get the proper testing they need to detect breast cancer. It’s inexcusable that women should have to wait to get the screenings they need. That’s why we’re making prevention and wellness a priority.

“For these families and these businesses—for our economy’s renewal, our children’s future and our nation’s promise—the finish line is finally in sight. I’m confident we’ll cross it soon. And I once again invite my Republican colleagues to join us on the right side of history.”