Sanford Bishop: “When I first ran for Congress in 1992, I pledged to my constituents that I would use the political process to improve…”

“When I first ran for Congress in 1992, I pledged to my constituents that I would use the political process to improve the lives of people and communities of the Second Congressional District of Georgia. For this reason, I supported the Affordable Care Act in 2010 because I believed that it would make a significant difference in making health care more affordable and more accessible. I still believe in the effectiveness of the law more than two years after its enactment. In fact, it is needed now more than ever. My District has high rates of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and obesity. Many of my constituents cannot get health insurance because they have reached their lifetime limit or they have a pre-existing condition. I also have heard from seniors who cannot afford their prescription drugs because they have fallen into Medicare's ``donut hole,'' small businesses owners who find the cost of health insurance to be too high, and residents of rural communities who must travel long distances to find a doctor. They deserve better. We all do. Repealing the Affordable Care Act would be a significant setback for these Georgians as well as the entire nation. According to a Washington Post editorial Tuesday, since the health reform law was enacted, increases in national health expenditures have slowed, saving Americans more than $220 billion. In Georgia alone, the closure of the ``donut hole'' in coverage to date has saved Medicare recipients over $13 million.…”