WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–December 23, 2009. This morning, United States Senator Roland W. Burris and his colleagues in the United States Senate voted to pass landmark health care reform legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Senate passed the bill along party lines. The legislation will extend coverage to more than 30 million Americans, drive down health care costs, encourage accountability and increase competition in the insurance market.
“Today, we have come further than any Congress in history,” said Senator Burris. “For years, we have known that the American healthcare system is badly broken. Now, after nearly a century of discussion and debate, after a hundred years of delays and false starts , we can look the American people in the eyes and tell them we fought on their behalf and won.”
“While this bill is far from perfect, it is an important step in the right direction, and a solid foundation to be built upon to ensure that every American has quality, affordable health insurance,” said Senator Burris. “As we continue to move forward to the next steps of conference committee and final passage, I will continue to advocate for greater cost controls, increased competition for consumers, and holding the insurance industry accountable.”
Throughout the Senate’s debate on health care reform, Senator Burris has been a vocal advocate for the goals of the public option and their inclusion in this reform legislation. During the debate, Senator Burris spoke from the Senate floor numerous times vocalizing his insistence on passing health care reform legislation that would provide Americans with reduced costs, hold insurance companies accountable and increase competition in the insurance market.
Once the Senate health care reform bill has moved to the Conference Committee and merged with the House health reform bill, the merged bill will be sent for final approval by the House of Representatives and the Senate before being sent to President Obama for his signature and passage into law.
Source: burris.senate.gov