Statements on health care bill from Reid, Berkley, Titus and Heller

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., released the following statement Sunday night on the House passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:

"I commend Speaker Pelosi and her team for leading passage of this common sense legislation that puts Americans back in control of their own health care, lowers skyrocketing costs, reduces the deficit, protects seniors and curbs insurance company abuses. She and her colleagues in the House understand that this was never about politics; it has always been about people who are struggling every day to keep their families healthy without going broke. This is about the scores of people we hear from every day who need greater security and stability in their health care."

The act will benefit all levels of American society, Reid said.

"As the Senate prepares to complete our work on this historic effort, Senate Democrats reaffirm our commitment to reform because we know it's good for middle-class families, seniors and small businesses in Nevada and all across America."

HOUSE VOTES

Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev.

Vote: Nay

"Today Congress did a great disservice to the American people," Heller said Sunday in a written statement. "By choosing ideology over their constituency, Congress has empowered the federal government to take control of individual health care choices. Those who voted for this measure stood up for political buyoffs and special deals that benefit a small few while sticking the majority of Americans with higher taxes and higher health care costs. For our children and grandchildren, we will be passing on record debt and lower quality of life. At a time when Americans are asking for jobs, Congress has decided to deliver bigger government and less opportunity."

Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev.

Vote: Aye

"For over a year, I've listened to the voices of District Three, and heard heartbreaking stories of children denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, small business owners who can't afford to insure their employees, and single moms who have lost their jobs and her insurance," Titus said in a speech from the House floor. "They are the reasons I am voting for reform."

Titus said that in her Nevada district, health care reform will improve coverage for more than 600,000 people.

"It will strengthen Medicare for 120,000 seniors and close the prescription drug donut hole," she said. "It will create health care tax breaks for over 200,000 families and 17,000 small businesses, and let 72,000 young adults stay on their parents' policy."

Titus said that with her vote, she stood up for what she believes in.

"As has been said, 'It's the price of leadership to do the thing you believe has to be done, at the time it must be done.' Now is the time to get it done and pass health care reform."

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.

Vote: Aye

"Once you lose your job, you lose your health care. And I have the very highest mortgage foreclosure rates in the country," said Berkley, referring to Nevada's 1st Congressional District. "Given those facts, I thought that it was important to be able to provide some peace of mind to working families in our state... that at least if they lost their jobs... at the very least we could ensure that their health care could continue."

Berkley said the bill would also provide $74 million to cover uncompensated care in Southern Nevada hospitals.

"I'm a doctor's wife. We do health care in the family. I know this is not a perfect bill. There are parts of it that need to be fixed. But the underlying bill will go a long way to helping American families with their health insurance."