The Affordable Health Care for America Act is a piece of legislation that will provide stability and security for Americans who have insurance; quality affordable options for those who don’t; and bring down the cost of health care for families, businesses, and the government while strengthening the financial health of Medicare.  And it is legislation that is fully paid for and will reduce our long-term federal deficit.

Thanks to the hard work of the House, we are just two steps away from achieving health insurance reform in America.  Now the United States Senate must follow suit and pass its version of the legislation.  I am absolutely confident it will, and I look forward to signing comprehensive health insurance reform into law by the end of the year."

While House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called passage of the bill "an historic moment for our nation and for America's families," skeptic Republicans think the bill will raise taxes and cut Medicare.

Pelosi added that the $1.2 trillion bill would also reduce drug costs for seniors, prevent insurance companies from charging women more than men for the same coverage, and would allow young adults to stay on their parents' insurance until they're 27 years of age, and added that the bill would not add one dime to the already fledging US deficit.

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