Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that by a vote of 220–211 the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010.  The bill now goes to the Senate for their consideration. 

“If enacted into law, American Samoa will receive $285.5 million in total Medicaid spending for the next 9 years, or an increase of over $180 million,” Faleomavaega said.  “This is a momentous accomplishment and a momentous occasion in the history of our great nation.”

“It is momentous in the sense that this long-overdue, comprehensive overhaul of our national Healthcare system is desperately needed to address rising medical costs and to extend coverage to our fellow Americans that are often left to fend for themselves, and I want to thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her leadership in bringing this important issue to the Floor for consideration.”

“I also want to express my gratitude to President Obama and the Democratic House and Senate leadership for their willingness to work hand-in-hand with the Congressional Delegates to resolve our concerns and reduce the health disparity facing the Territories.” 

“On the House side, I want to particularly thank both Chairman Henry Waxman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and Chairman Charles Rangel of the Committee on Ways and Means for their unwavering support in addressing the concerns put forward by the Congressional Delegates.  On the Senate side, I also want to thank Senator Chris Dodd and Senator Charles Schumer for their assistance.”

“Most of all, I wish to recognize my fellow Congressional Delegates, Donna Christensen of the Virgin Islands for her work in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Gregorio Sablan of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas and Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico for their advocacy in the House Committee on Education and Labor, and Madeleine Bordallo of Guam for her leadership as the Chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Healthcare Task Force.  Together, we worked relentlessly to bring about change for those we represent.”

“This entire Healthcare overhaul would not have been possible without the support of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and I want to especially recognize the efforts of Congressman Mike Honda, Chairman of CAPAC.”

“While the bill before us is far from ideal and not the perfect solution to all our health care issues, it is imperative and also the constitutional responsibility of the Members of this Chamber to act in the best interest of those who are suffering, particularly in light of the heart-wrenching stories told of people dying, parents worrying and families living in fear because they have no health insurance.”

“Just last year, it was estimated that 625 Americans lost their health insurance every hour.  So even though we may not agree on how to make this right, we can agree that to do nothing is not an acceptable course of action.  Our fellow Americans deserve our help.”

“The some 4.4 million Americans living in the Territories also deserve to be recognized and this is why I am pleased that this bill acknowledges that we are part of the American family.  Although much remains to be desired, this bill is a step towards bringing the Territories to parity with the States.  Under Section 1204, the Territories—Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands—will receive an additional $6.3 billion over a 9 year period in federal funding for Medicaid costs.”

“American Samoa will receive $285.5 million in total Medicaid spending for the next 9 years, or an increase of over $180 million.”

“This legislation also provides $1 billion for the Territories to participate in the Health Insurance Exchange program, the centerpiece of this Healthcare Reform Legislation.  Each of the Territories will be afforded the option to participate or transfer their allocation to their Medicaid program.  If American Samoa chooses not to participate in the Exchange, the Territory will receive an additional $18.75 million for its Medicaid program.”

The following chart shows what American Samoa will receive on a yearly basis.

Year	What ASG gets now, or Base Funding (adjusted for inflation at rate of 4.60%)	Additional Funds ASG will receive if Reconciliation Act of 2010 is signed into law	Total Amount ASG will receive if Reconciliation Act of 2010 is signed into law (Base + Additional funds)
2011	$9,696,420	$6,593,566	$16,289,986
2012	$10,142,455	$18,459,269	$28,601,724
2013	$10,609,008	$19,308,395	$29,917,403
2014	$11,097,023	$20,196,581	$31,293,604
2015	$11,607,486	$21,125,624	$32,733,110
2016	$12,141,430	$22,097,403	$34,238,833
2017	$12,699,936	$23,113,883	$35,813,819
2018	$13,284,133	$24,177,122	$37,461,255
2019	$13,895,203	$25,289,269	$39,184,472
GRAND TOTAL	$105,173,094	$180,361,112	$285,534,205

“With the historic passage of this legislation and the increased federal funding it will provide if enacted into law, I am hopeful that the American Samoa Government and Legislature will do all it can to provide quality and affordable health care for the people of American Samoa.”

“In 2005, the findings of the American Samoa Health Survey estimated that only 25% of the population had insurance and, with the rising cost of health care, it is highly likely that the number of insured in American Samoa has declined drastically since that time.”

“But now, with such a significant increase in federal funding, ASG will once more have the tools it needs to improve healthcare and health coverage for the residents of the Territory and to meet the challenges which have been exacerbated by the Territory’s remote location and the exponential rate of chronic diseases.”

 “In light of the current political environment surrounding healthcare reform, President Obama’s own testimony in Ohio last week best summarizes the necessity and the very reason why Congress must pass this legislation today.  The President said, “I’m here because of my own mother’s story.  She died of cancer, and in the last six months of her life, she was on the phone in her hospital room arguing with insurance companies instead of focusing on getting well and spending time with her family.” 

“Millions of Americans share the same story, and this legislation is critical for the welfare of all Americans.  This legislation is not only about saving money and reducing the deficit or addressing the billions wasted in Medicare.  This legislation is about providing for those who cannot provide for themselves.  It is about the fundamental right of healthcare for all.”

“As Martin Luther King once said, ‘Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.’” 

“At its best, this bill is a step toward equality and justice for all Americans and, for this reason, I thank my colleagues for supporting this historic legislation and, most especially for working hand-in-hand with the Congressional Delegates’ to make certain that the Territories were included and that our concerns were addressed.  As this legislation continues to move forward, I will keep our people updated,” Faleomavaega concluded.