Kagen Says Health Care Reform Is About Equality

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2009

CONTACT:
Jake Rubin
(202) 225-5665

KAGEN  SAYS  HEALTH  CARE  REFORM  IS  ABOUT  EQUALITY

(WASHINGTON, DC)  Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. spoke on the House floor this morning in favor of the health care reform legislation introduced this week.  Kagen said:

“I rise this morning to strongly support the ideas contained within our health care reform legislation.

The idea is very simple, it’s about equality.  It’s about no discrimination against any citizen due to preexisting medical conditions.

And isn’t it about time?

You know, it was a little over 50 years ago that this congress in a bipartisan way guaranteed equality at the lunch counter and now working together we’re going to guarantee that every citizen has equality at the pharmacy counter, at the physician’s office and at the hospitals they need to go to guarantee the health they require just to survive.

This is our time in Congress to work together to fashion a health care system that works for everybody, not just those who are chosen at the top of the food chain.

I stand in support of health care reform that is meaningful, that guarantees no discrimination against any citizen anywhere in this land.”

The America’s Affordable Health Choice Act of 2009 includes no discrimination based on pre-existing medical conditions, driving down costs through competition on a level playing field, eliminating waste fraud and abuse, and the creation of a standard health benefit plan to be offered by all insurers.  Each of these concepts is included in the Essential Elements of Health Care Reform developed by the doctors, hospital administrators and small business owners on the 8th Congressional District Health Care Advisory Committee.