FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- October 13, 2009
SENATOR ROCKEFELLER STATEMENT ON VOTE FOR SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HEALTH CARE BILL
PLEDGES TO KEEP UP THE FIGHT FOR POLICIES THAT WORK FOR ALL WEST VIRGINIA FAMILIES ON SENATE FLOOR AND IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
Washington, D.C.-Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, today voted in support of the Senate Finance Committee health care bill.
After the vote, Senator Rockefeller released the following statement:
"Health care reform is about making people's lives better and it is about providing all families tangible solutions that make a difference in their day-to-day, through good times and bad. Health care reform is about the people of West Virginia and people all across America, who are expecting us to fight for them," said Rockefeller.
"And health care reform is about eliminating, once and for all, that horrifying feeling so many people live with when they go to bed and wake up each day - that feeling of walking a tightrope, fearing that one accident, one illness could send them over the edge without any support.
"The status quo every American knows to be our broken system is not the best we can do. Not even close. It is regrettable to say so, but I believe the bill fell short of what people need and expect from us. I have made no secret of the fact that I think we could have dug deeper, gotten more creative and worked together much better.
"So the question on the table was whether to vote for the bill. But as I approached that question, I asked two others:
"One - could anything more have been done here in this Committee to improve the bill or was it time to move on to a new venue where I hope significantly more progress can be made?
"And two - is defending the status quo and joining the Party of no useful to passing comprehensive health care reform over the long run?
"What it boils down to for me is that I am passionate about health care reform and I am pragmatic about when it's time to move forward. I have never been and am not today one to simply say no for the sake of saying no, to stand on the sidelines and criticize without working to fix what is broken. I voted my hope for the next steps of this process, and so I voted yes.
"But let me be crystal clear - this yes vote is not an endorsement of this bill as it stands today. My vote is a pledge to continue on the Senate Floor and in Conference the fight for policies that work and represent the real needs of West Virginia families."
SEE FULL TEXT OF ROCKEFELLER'S OFFICIAL STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD ON SUPPORT OF SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE'S HEALTH CARE BILL HERE.
In his official statement, Senator Rockefeller highlighted successes in the legislation, including protecting workers in high risk professions, including coal miners and first responders, maintaining CHIP coverage for children, fighting for seniors, improving accountability, oversight and health care quality, and making health care more affordable for American families.
Senator Rockefeller also highlighted areas of concerns in the bill and what he plans to fight for on the Senate Floor and in Conference. These included a viable public health insurance option, regulation for the insurance industry, protecting and improving Medicaid, stronger affordability protections, improving health care information technology, addressing end-of-life care, improving employer responsibility, and removing special interests from the Medicare Commission.
For a summary of Senator Rockefeller's successes in the bill and the issues he plans to fight for on the Senate Floor and in Conference, click HERE.
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