Jane Harman: “In a few hours, the House leadership will finally introduce a rescission package on health care which will reduce our…”

“In a few hours, the House leadership will finally introduce a rescission package on health care which will reduce our deficit over the next two decades to lower numbers than would either the House-passed or Senate-passed health bills. As a Blue Dog, I commend this. But I stand here this morning specifically to say that information just released by the Energy and Commerce Committee, on which I serve, shows a very favorable impact on my district from the bill, which I intend to support. I have received thousands of calls and emails from constituents. I will post this information on my Web site immediately after speaking this morning. But in a nutshell, the bill improves coverage for 427,000 of my constituents who already have health care. It gives tax credits and other assistance to up to 137,000 families and 15,100 small businesses. It improves Medicare coverage for 81,000 constituents by helping to close the doughnut hole. It extends coverage to 67,500 uninsured, guarantees coverage for people with preexisting conditions, and permits kids under 26 to stay on their parents' policies. I ask my colleagues to support the bill.”