"We are facing a health care crisis in our country right now, and a health care system that doesn't work for us," said Halvorson. "It doesn't work for so many of my constituents who have been denied affordable care because of pre-existing conditions, and it doesn't work for the millions who can't afford insurance or who are afraid of losing their coverage. After reading the bill and listening to my constituents, I believe that this legislation, as it stands, delivers on what H.R. 3200 did not; providing meaningful reform that lowers health care costs for families, expanding access to those who don't have it, while actually reducing the deficit by $30 billion.

I was also one of the moderate Democrats who fought hard to make sure that any public option included in this bill would not be tied to Medicare rates, so that we could ensure good access to health care throughout my district.

We owe it to our families and our neighbors to provide the peace of mind and stability that will come from passing this legislation, and I look forward to supporting it.  As the process moves forward, I'll continue reviewing the legislation and any amendments to make sure any changes to the bill meet these criteria."

The Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962, contains provisions that would:

• End co-payments for preventative care in Medicare,
• Close the Medicare Part D donut hole and lower prescription drug prices by 50%,
• Reduce the health care cost burden on small businesses, whose health expenses have grown almost 130% since 2000,
• Allow states to join together to permit buying insurance across state lines to increase competition,
• Create reform pilot programs to reduce frivolous lawsuits from entering the court system while preserving patients' rights and,
• Reduce the deficit by $30 billion over the first ten years.

More information about the Affordable Health Care for America Act can be found on my website, halvorson.house.gov. This includes the full text of the bill and a section by section summary.