For far too long, rising health care costs have hurt America’s economy and burdened American families struggling to obtain quality, affordable health care. I listened closely to Oregonians during the debate on health care reform and heard loud and clear that the system was not working. I helped enact historic health care reforms that will make significant investments in changing the failed status quo.

When we look back in 50 years, health care reform will stand beside Social Security, the GI Bill, and Medicare as a pillar of American progress and humane values. I was proud to support the health care reform legislation and look forward to the positive changes that Oregonians will see as a result.

As your congressman, I have:

• Passed legislation that provides 32 million more Americans with access to health care coverage, and even more importantly, gives the 200 million Americans who already have insurance coverage unprecedented security and stability.
• Passed legislation that allows millions of young Americans to remain on their family’s health insurance plans until the age of 26.
• Passed legislation that eliminates the use of pre-existing conditions to restrict access to health insurance.
• Passed legislation that protects families from the devious practice of rescission, where insurance companies take your money for years and then yank your coverage when you get sick.
• Passed legislation that bans annual or lifetime limits on health care coverage, so you won’t go bankrupt if you get a serious illness like cancer or diabetes.
• Secured a landmark commitment to move the American health care system away from paying doctors for the number of procedures they perform and toward rewarding quality and results so that Oregon doctors are paid fairly and all Americans can access excellent and efficient care.