DeLauro Praises Passage of Historic Health Reform Bill, Discusses Impact on Small Business and Middle Class Families

Washington, DC- Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) today visited the Grand Apizza restaurant in New Haven to celebrate the passage of the historic health care reform legislation and to discuss the benefits for small businesses and middle class Americans.

The legislation includes reforms that will help small businesses starting this year. The new health care reforms will cut the cost of premiums up to a third now and by half when fully implemented. There is nothing more important in this economy. Soon, small businesses will benefit from access to large-group rates. Additionally, through access to the new Health Insurance Exchanges, both small businesses and their employees will have access to a much fuller range of plans than ever before. Those plans can no longer use pre-existing conditions to drop or raise rates.

In the 3rd District alone, 467,000 residents will see improvements in their health care coverage, translating to 19,500 currently uninsured individuals who will gain access to health care coverage and 58,000 young adults who will be able to remain on their parents policies until their 26th birthdays, 15,400 small businesses who will receive tax credits to help make health insurance affordable for themselves and their employees, and 1,000 families who will escape from filing bankruptcy due to medical bills.

Joined by members of the community who will benefit from this legislation, the Congresswoman spoke about her involvement in getting the legislation passed and how it will directly impact Americans living in the 3rd district and across the country.

Congresswoman DeLauro said, "Our reforms fulfill a promise first made 100 years ago by President Theodore Roosevelt, when he called for comprehensive health insurance reform. They fulfill a promise made by Franklin Roosevelt to our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents in 1944, when he argued that every man and woman in America has an inalienable "right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health."

"The passage of this health care legislation is an extraordinary event, and probably the biggest thing that has happened in my twenty years in Congress. It will have an enormous benefit for every American, young or old, rich or poor, healthy or sick, man or woman-everyone will benefit from these reforms, and it will make our country a better place. Companies will be able to provide their employees with health insurance options. Insurance companies will no longer be able to arbitrarily deny claims for those who are sick. And most importantly, American families will be able to afford they health care they need."