On the recordMarch 22, 2010
the House of Representatives deserves the appreciation of the entire Nation for what it did last night. A clear majority of Congressmen and Congresswomen voted in favor of the bill that a supermajority of Senators passed on Christmas Eve a few months ago. Tomorrow the Senate will begin to put the final touches on this enormous effort. Last night's vote took both courage and common sense. Their votes were momentous. They were historic. They were right. After a century of working and waiting, going back to the days of Theodore Roosevelt, real reform will become the law of the land, not in a matter of years or months or weeks but in a matter of hours. In the very near future, various parts of this bill will take effect and improve the life of millions. Soon insurance companies will no longer be able to refuse to cover children with preexisting conditions. They will no longer be able to drop your coverage just because you get sick. Small businesses that today cannot afford to cover their employees will soon get tax credits to help them right that wrong. Tens of thousands of small businesses will benefit in Nevada alone--24,000 to be exact. Reform means that if you have a preexisting condition and no health insurance, you soon will be able to finally afford the care you need to get and stay healthy. If you are stuck in the prescription drug doughnut hole, you will soon get a check to help pay for your medicine.
