Serrano Votes in Favor of Health Care Reform Bill

November 7, 2009 – Washington, DC – Congressman José E. Serrano voted in favor of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which passed the House 220-215 this evening. Serrano said the passage was a “bold step on behalf of the American people” and “historic.”

“I voted in favor of the health care reform bill this evening in one of the most important votes of my 35 year career in public service,” Serrano said. “Nothing I have voted for in all those years will change more lives for the better than this bill. We spent much of the year debating the details of this important bill and the resulting legislation is quite significant.

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“It is vital to remember that we are moving to ensure that people in our nation—the richest nation in the world—do not lack for health care. This is at the heart of the American promise – we are in this together and must look out for our neighbors. Health care is no exception.

“It is also important not to forget the extent to which people suffer indignities under our current patchwork of a system, which rewards all the wrong behaviors. It rewards insurance companies for NOT covering people when they are sick; it rewards paperwork and red tape; and it rewards treating sickness, not preventing it. Today we have taken a major step to undo these problems and prevent further indignities.

“For these reasons, for my Bronx constituents, for my children and grandchildren, and for the millions of Americans across the nation suffering without health care, I proudly cast my vote this evening in favor of this bill.”

Source: Congressman José E. Serrano