Health Care Reform Will Ensure Quality Coverage for All

Below are the prepared remarks of Chairman George Miller at a press conference with the chairs of the other committees with health policy jurisdiction at the U.S. House of Representatives to unveil the Tri-Committee Discussion Draft for Health Care Reform.

Today marks a historic moment in America's urgent quest to fix our broken health insurance system.

For the past six months, our three committees -- the committees that have jurisdiction over health care in the House -- have worked together in an unprecedented manner to develop and present a health care reform discussion draft to Congress and the American people that embodies President Obama's call for fundamental change in our health care system.

President Obama asked us to draft a reform bill that will control costs, guarantee choice, and ensure quality and affordable health coverage for all Americans.

I believe that our draft lives up to those essential principles. Our discussion draft reflects months of hard work and the views of many of our colleagues.

We've met with our respective Democratic and Republican committee members, with our Senate colleagues, with the CBO, and with administration officials in an open and collaborative process.

To further this open and collaborative process, our three committees will hold hearings on this draft starting next week.

After the July Fourth district work period, our committees will then work to make refinements to the draft, vote on it, and send a bill to the House floor.

This is truly exciting news.

The House decided to use this unified approach because we recognized that our ability to succeed at health care reform rests in our ability to work together.

We know that inside-the-beltway turf battles will not advance reforms.

We believe that in order to change America's health care system, Congress itself must change.

When the voters elected Barack Obama President, they did not only send a message that the White House must change.

They sent an equally strong message to the Congress that we must work together for the common good of our nation.

They told us that we will not be rewarded for standing on the sidelines or for raising every conceivable argument against taking action.

Americans will judge us, and rightly so, by our willingness and our determination to cooperate and focus on the ultimate and necessary goal of reforming our health care system so that it works not just for the few but for everyone in our country.

That is why the approach that the three of us have taken in this process is one of the key factors that makes this year the year that we will finally fix our broken health care system.

The current path is unsustainable. No one disagrees with that.

Health care premiums have spiraled out of control - dealing a crushing blow to families and businesses alike and placing our fiscal future in peril. Rising costs are unsustainable.

President Obama is absolutely correct when he says that health care reform is essential to the health of our nation and the strength of our economy.

In fact, health care reform is the single greatest tool to reduce runaway budget deficits.

Our discussion draft is the first step in building a truly American solution that will reduce costs, offer real choice, and guarantee affordable, quality health care for all.

It will build a health care system that emphasizes keeping Americans healthy, not waiting until they become sick to get treated.

In the coming weeks, our committees will continue to seek input from all the stakeholders, the American people, and all members of Congress.

But let me say again that we must and we will continue to move forward. If there is one thing that is 'off of the table' it is saying 'no' to health care reform.

There is not one child, not one worker, not one employer, nor one taxpayer who can further bear the cost of doing nothing.

I am confident that we have the ability to respond to their needs.

I'd like to thank Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, the rest of our Democratic Leadership, and all of our Caucus for giving us the support and input we've needed to develop this uniquely American solution for finally bringing quality, affordable health care to our country.

Cross-posted at the EdLabor Journal.

Follow Rep. George Miller on Twitter: www.twitter.com/askgeorge

Comments

[AMERIKA]

As long as the result is a single payer everyone gets coverage solution of sorts then I am for it.. anything short, and why bother?

[DutchUncleAl]

Lot's of good ideas in this thread.

[WorkingClass]

Today marks a historic moment in America's urgent quest to fix our broken health insurance system.

You cant fix the insurance system. You MUST destroy it. Its them (and you) or us.

[jmpurser]

The only thing "historic" about this occasion is the unmitigated gall it takes to come up with an insurance industry welfare bill and call it "health care reform" because it contains a "public option".

We need Universal Single Payer Health Care Insurance run by the Government. Anything else is a sell out to corporate interests who have spent the last 40 years killing Americans in the name of profit.

[Coinyer101]

If it ain't single-payer, then keep it!

[melmoid]

Too extreme and impractical. The votes don't exist for single player. Even my two women Democrat Senators aren't pushing single payer. It will be a stretch to get a public option in. Those that are happy with their private insurance can keep it. If the public option is good, people will migrate to it over time.

[fedupinfla]

Please sign these petitions!!

http://ga3.org/campaign/healthpetition?source=healthpetition

http://standwithdrdean.com/

http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/page/s/AMA

Let those in Washington know we DEMAND a public option!!!!!

[Billl]

Keep health care reform simple and it will produce the greatest economic stimulus ever for our country.

Health care reform must be paid for.

The cheapest way to collect the money is through a national sales tax not by forcing people and companies to purchase questionable insurance to pay for services in a system that has failed so many.

The cheapest, most efficient, best outcome producing, delivery system would be through government owned and operated hospitals and clinics, operated as a civilian VA style system, that would deliver all government funded health care and medications free to everyone choosing to use government care, no restrictions period.

Businesses that choose public care for their employees will have no financial obligations or any other responsibilities concerning health care.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2005/0501.longman.html

A robust private health care industry could thrive serving patients, who would prefer and could afford to pay for private care, in a privatte system that would no longer be burdened with subsidizing indigent, pre existing condition, and endless government mandated services.

Ask OMB; how much this dual choice, public or private system, would save annually from the $2.5 trillion now spent for care, what will this combination health care and stimulus package do for individuals, businesses and the US economy?

[WorkingClass]

All the money we need is in the Pentagon budget. Or do you think we really need to spend more for "defense" than THE REST OF THE WORLD COMBINED?

[FogBelter]

Representative Miller, thank you sir for a glimmer of hope. It was getting to the point where the only person I had faith in on Capitol Hill was Senator Sanders on the issue of Health Care. We really need to see our Representatives raising Cain over disallowing inclusion of a Public Option in the Health Care plan. I don't think deal making in the shadows is worthy of this very important issue. I believe, wholeheartedly, that a Comprehensive Universal Single Payer Health Care plan would pay the greatest dividends for the American people and National Economy in the short and long term. I hope that someone in your committees will allow public discussion of this option, as Utopian as it might be.

I understand that this is a tough fight, Representative Miller, and I am glad we have a straight shooter, such as yourself, as one of our Generals in this campaign. Please, Sir, don't back down ... and please expose any chocolate eclairs masquerading as Democratic spines you may come across as you engage in this battle for Health Care for all Americans ... Thank you, Sir.

[mbaty]

Thank you for your efforts. A lot of Americans have been waiting as patiently as we can for these long overdue reforms. Not only should we use a "uniquely American" approach, we have many other countries' examples to take from, as they have already dealt with this crucial issue.

[SpiralUp]

ps thank you congressman Miller for the work on this. A cursory glance gives me the idea that this is at least a very good start

[SpiralUp]

Well, it's 854 pages which I will try to read through on my 12 hour shift tonight. The summary gives the highlights but is light on detail. There is definitely a public option in it, I'm looking to see if there are exclusions or triggers.

click on the link above to go to the details.

the Tri-Committee Discussion Draft for Health Care Reform.

[ThursdaysChild]

Blah blah.

Are you for a public option or not? Passing a bill that does not include a public option is not "reform."

[SpiralUp]

Thursday, why don't you help us read through it?

[NWGuy]

Success in health care reform will depend if it is about people having access to health care or (as the repubs prefer) access to health insurance. Only the former will make a difference.

[WinterParkMom]

Congressman,
The only reform is single payer or a public option. No triggers or taxes on employer paid premiums allowed.

You pay for it by asessing a 1penney tax on every fast food item, every food/beverage with high fructose corn syrup and every bottle and glass of alchohol.

You repeal the bush tax cuts.

You assess premiums based on income. You allow anyone to buy in, regardless of preexisting conditions. You allow everyone who wants to to buy into an affordable longterm care fund as part of the public option. You allow those benefits to be transferable with written consent, from family members to each other, or friend to friend or stranger to stranger. This will help with long term care.

The solution to a single payer or public option is simple if you people would get down to work and STOP LISTENING TO SPECIAL INTERESTS AND REPUBLICANS. They do not work on behalf of the People!!!!!

[TJCole]

Let America hear Professor Uwe Reinhardt of Princeton ...Congres­sman...

He's got it all figured out for years, real hard numbers and the right philosophical outlook...­!

Let him testify...­or is this really just another dog and pony show...?