Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

WASHINGTON, DC –  This evening, I voted for H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. This bill is a historic and positive national step forward and offers the greatest improvement to the quality of health care for all Americans since the creation of Medicare. It will provide health insurance to 96 percent of our citizens. It stops the obscene insurance industry practice of denying people health care coverage due to “pre-existing” medical conditions. In the 18th  Congressional District, an estimated 107,000 more residents will qualify for affordable health care insurance. 

Throughout the legislative process, I was able to advocate for – and successfully secure – $500 million in funding for medical schools in rural areas, including UC Merced. As you likely know, for years I have fought to address our region’s shortage of doctors by creating a first-rate medical school that would train doctors in the Valley and provide an incentive for them to remain in our community. I worked with the House Leadership and President Obama’s Administration. I was able to secure their commitments that they would support funding for the UC Merced Medical School and its establishment would be a high priority for both the President and House leaders.
                                                                       
The costs of care of the underinsured or uninsured that our taxpayers have picked up through publicly-funded hospitals and increased medical insurance premiums will now be shared more equally. H.R. 3962 will direct $167 million to hospitals in the 18th district alone, where in some areas 30 percent of the residents are currently on Medicaid. Relieving pressure on our county governments, the bill will increase Medicaid reimbursements to Medicare levels by 2012, making it more affordable for doctors to treat Medicaid beneficiaries. Additionally, the legislation provides increased funding for community health care centers such as those in our district.

The cost of caring for those without insurance in our community is paid by the hospitals, the counties, the cities, the taxpayers and those who already have insurance. This legislation marks a dramatic shift in helping to alleviate those costs, in addition to making insurance available to thousands of Valley residents. 

Before I decided to vote for the health care reform bill, I weighed all the arguments, both pro and con. Would our country and our community be better off with this measure than without it? Does this measure offer the promise of significantly improving our nation’s health care? Is it likely to be better than the status quo?

In making my decision, I relied heavily on the comments of people from the Valley, many of whom made strong cases for, and against, components of the bill. In the months leading up to the vote on health care reform, I met with doctors and other health care professionals throughout our community. I also met with business owners, retirees, public officials and veterans. In addition to discussions at civic presentations, I received thousands of emails, letters and calls. The information, questions and comments from those people helped shape my decision today.

Our nation is much better off with this bill than we would be without it. Of that, there is little doubt. That is why H.R. 3962 earned my vote.

We do need to make parts of this bill better. I am concerned with the cost of the bill while our nation’s debt continues to rise. I am also concerned with limiting the impact on small businesses. I have shared both of these concerns with the Administration.

I will continue to work to address these concerns in conference committee when the differences between the Senate and House bills are worked out before sending a final bill to the President. Yet we cannot overlook the multitude of needs in our nation – especially in our region – and the benefits this bill will have for families throughout America and the Valley.

This legislation is not perfect; no bill in Congress ever is. But it offers significant improvement in our current health care system, and it will provide enormous benefits for those I was elected to represent. It is a major step forward toward affordable insurance, more access and thanks to funding for the UC Merced Medical School, more doctors in our region that will help residents of the Valley lead the healthy lives that they deserve.