Congresswoman Matsui Statement on President Obama's Health Insurance Reform Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Doris O. Matsui (CA-05) issued the following statement after President Barack Obama addressed a joint session of Congress tonight on health insurance reform:

"President Obama's address will galvanize Congress to achieve a long-held goal of the American people: health insurance that works for all Americans. We cannot wait any longer to reform our health insurance system so that it lowers health-care costs, expands access to coverage, strengthens Medicare, and offers stability to people who have insurance today. These are the goals for health insurance reform that I share with President Obama and with thousands of my constituents, which is why I strongly support the America's Affordable Health Choices Act.

"I appreciate the President's clear resolve to cut through the noise and communicate directly with the American people about all of the things that health insurance reform will mean for them and their loved ones. Sacramento cannot afford a health care system which is characterized by out-of-control insurance costs, rampant inequality, rescissions, and denials of coverage that arbitrarily limit access to the quality health care that every American needs and deserves. Tonight's presidential address represents a major step toward abolishing this untenable status quo.

"For years, I have heard from people across Sacramento that we must act to make health insurance more affordable, accessible, and stable for everyone. I am proud to say that Congress is taking clear and decisive action to do this, and President Obama's address tonight is proof that he is doubling his own efforts to make health insurance reform a reality. I look forward to working with him and with my colleagues in Congress to deliver health insurance reform for the American people."

#DAL1234#