December 2, 2009
Thank you for contacting me regarding our nation's
healthcare system. I appreciate hearing from you on this important
issue.Ibelieve that America deserves a healthcare system that reflects
theingenuity and compassion of the American people. During his
addressto Congress on September 10, 2009, President Obama pledged to push
forbroad healthcare reform. I will to continue to work with him and
mycolleagues in the United States Senate to enact a plan that increasescoverage,
improves quality of care, reduces costs, and refocuses oursystem on preventing
illness and promoting wellness. Health insurancereform will address
these issues and improve the lives of all NewMexicans. OnNovember 18, 2009, we
passed a critical milestone in our efforts toreform our healthcare system with
the release of the Patient Protectionand Affordable Care Act. This
legislation is a critical step in ourefforts to pass comprehensive health
insurance reform. I am encouragedthat the bipartisan Congressional Budget
Office estimates this billwill reduce the deficit by $127 billion over the next
ten years, savinghundreds of billions while extending coverage to 31 million
moreAmericans. Among other things, this legislation would:
End insurance industry abuses that have denied coverage to hardworking Americans when they get
sick by ending discrimination forpre-existing conditions and making it illegal
for insurance companiesto drop coverage if an individual get sick;
Level the playing field for consumers through Health InsuranceExchanges and a strong
public option. The bill would give Americansmore control over their health care
choices by keeping insurers honestand driving down rising costs from private
insurers;
Protect Seniors' benefits and make Medicare a stronger,
moresustainable program by reducing the size of the donut hole, endinginsurance
industry discrimination based on age and cutting waste, fraudand abuse in
Medicare; and
Improve the affordability of health care for employers by
providingtax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage
moreaffordable.
I believe that the economic challenges we face as a
nation highlight our immediate need for broad, sweeping healthcare reform.
Skyrocketing healthcare costs are weighing heavily on Americanfamilies,
businesses, and all levels of government. These costs undulyburden all
sectors of American society by consuming large portions ofAmerican wages and
hindering the growth of businesses. The status quois simply unacceptable
and the cost of inaction is too great toignore. Please be assured I will keep
your thoughts in mind as theSenate considers the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act.
Thankyou again for sharing your
thoughts with me. Please feel free tocontact me with concerns regarding
any federal issue. You may visit mywebsite at www.tomudall.senate.govfor more information or
visit my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Senator-Tom-Udall/106433512869
and receive up to the minute updates through my Twitter page at http://twitter.com/senatortomudall.
Very
truly yours,
Tom Udall
United States Senator
Thank you for contacting me regarding our nation's
healthcare system. I appreciate hearing from you on this important
issue.Ibelieve that America deserves a healthcare system that reflects
theingenuity and compassion of the American people. During his
addressto Congress on September 10, 2009, President Obama pledged to push
forbroad healthcare reform. I will to continue to work with him and
mycolleagues in the United States Senate to enact a plan that increasescoverage,
improves quality of care, reduces costs, and refocuses oursystem on preventing
illness and promoting wellness. Health insurancereform will address
these issues and improve the lives of all NewMexicans. OnNovember 18, 2009, we
passed a critical milestone in our efforts toreform our healthcare system with
the release of the Patient Protectionand Affordable Care Act. This
legislation is a critical step in ourefforts to pass comprehensive health
insurance reform. I am encouragedthat the bipartisan Congressional Budget
Office estimates this billwill reduce the deficit by $127 billion over the next
ten years, savinghundreds of billions while extending coverage to 31 million
moreAmericans. Among other things, this legislation would:
End insurance industry abuses that have denied coverage to hardworking Americans when they get
sick by ending discrimination forpre-existing conditions and making it illegal
for insurance companiesto drop coverage if an individual get sick;
Level the playing field for consumers through Health InsuranceExchanges and a strong
public option. The bill would give Americansmore control over their health care
choices by keeping insurers honestand driving down rising costs from private
insurers;
Protect Seniors' benefits and make Medicare a stronger,
moresustainable program by reducing the size of the donut hole, endinginsurance
industry discrimination based on age and cutting waste, fraudand abuse in
Medicare; and
Improve the affordability of health care for employers by
providingtax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage
moreaffordable.
I believe that the economic challenges we face as a
nation highlight our immediate need for broad, sweeping healthcare reform.
Skyrocketing healthcare costs are weighing heavily on Americanfamilies,
businesses, and all levels of government. These costs undulyburden all
sectors of American society by consuming large portions ofAmerican wages and
hindering the growth of businesses. The status quois simply unacceptable
and the cost of inaction is too great toignore. Please be assured I will keep
your thoughts in mind as theSenate considers the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act.
Thankyou again for sharing your
thoughts with me. Please feel free tocontact me with concerns regarding
any federal issue. You may visit mywebsite at www.tomudall.senate.govfor more information or
visit my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Senator-Tom-Udall/106433512869
and receive up to the minute updates through my Twitter page at http://twitter.com/senatortomudall.
Very
truly yours,
Tom Udall
United States Senator