Washington, D.C. - In a statement submitted during debate of H.R. 2, Congressman Howard L. Berman (CA-28) today expressed his firm opposition to repealing our nation’s health insurance reform law.  In the statement, Mr. Berman cited a letter he received from Diane, a constituent from Valley Village, whose family is already being helped by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

“Diane’s story, and the thousands like it that have been sent to me, is proof the health care law is making a positive difference in the lives of residents across the San Fernando Valley,” said Congressman Howard Berman.  “Repealing this critical law would not only give power back to the insurance companies to deny care, it would also place people like Diane back into a constant state of uncertainty where families are one illness or one accident away from financial ruin.  This is simply not acceptable.”

Diane from Valley Village wrote to Congressman Berman telling him about her daughter’s inability to secure health insurance, and the resulting uncertainty and anxiety it created for Diane as a mother.  She thanked the Congressman for supporting the Affordable Care Act because it finally allowed her daughter to receive coverage through her father’s health insurance plan. 

The devastating effects of repeal would hurt more than just Diane and her daughter.  In fact, tens of thousands of residents in the 28th District would suffer severe consequences from having their new patient protections stripped away, including:

• The 108,000 to 293,000 individuals who could be denied care by their insurance company due to a pre-existing condition, including up to 41,000 children.
• The 5,600 seniors who would see the cost of their prescription medicines increase.
• The 64,000 seniors who would lose new preventive care benefits.
• The 148,000 families who would no longer receive tax credits to help cover insurance costs.
• The 15,100 local small businesses that would no longer receive tax credits to help cover the cost of providing health care to employees.

Below, please find a copy of the full statement Congressman Berman submitted to the Congressional Record in opposition to repealing our nation’s health insurance reform law.

 
Submitted to the Congressional Record January 19, 2011

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2, a bill to repeal patients’ rights and empower health insurance companies at the expense of consumers. 

I am proud to have voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, landmark legislation to reform our country’s health insurance system and expand opportunities for quality, affordable health care to millions of people who otherwise go without. 

In my district, in the heart of California’s San Fernando Valley, rolling back reforms would have devastating consequences for my constituents.  This repeal would leave an additional 116,000 of my constituents without health insurance.  It would increase prescription drug costs for 5,600 seniors in the Medicare D “doughnut hole” and deny new preventive care benefits to 64,000 seniors.  It would expose over 100,000 of my constituents – and perhaps as many as 290,000 people in my district – to the possibility of being denied coverage because they have pre-existing conditions. 

I have heard from thousands of my constituents who support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, many of whom feel strongly enough to share their stories with me.  Some are thankful that their child’s pre-existing condition is no longer a barrier to getting coverage.  Others are relieved that treatment of their chronic illness is no longer subject to a lifetime spending cap.  But some are simply the parents of uninsured young adults who live with the day-to-day worry that their kids are one accident away from financial ruin or that they won’t be able to access the care they need.  I’d like to share one of these stories with you.

Diane, a constituent in Valley Village, wrote me last October to tell me about her daughter’s experience with the health insurance reform bill.  Her daughter graduated from a prestigious university in 2008 and got a job but still couldn’t afford health insurance.  She left her job after two years.  Two weeks later, she was in a serious car accident.  Her car was totaled but she, luckily, was not hurt.  At age 24, this young woman found herself unemployed and without health insurance, having narrowly escaped every parent’s nightmare.  Diane writes, “And then, two weeks ago…she was able to be covered under the plan of her father and stepmother.  I wanted to share this story because we want you [to know] that this change has already had a huge impact on our lives.  As a mother, I now have one less major issue to worry about.”  

On behalf of Diane and her family, and on behalf of children, young adults, parents, seniors, small business owners, small business employees, people with pre-existing conditions, hospitals that provide uncompensated care, and everyone else who benefits from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, I stand strongly against H.R. 2 and urge my colleagues to join me in voting against repeal. 

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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