Health Care
Every American deserves access to quality, affordable health care. It is crucial that we work together to make our health care system effective and efficient in order to serve all Americans. That is why I joined my colleagues in enacting the Affordable Care Act to reform our nation’s health care system. The Affordable Care Act works to protect people’s choice of doctors and health plans, as well as guarantee that Americans across the country have access to quality, stable, and affordable health care.
The Affordable Care Act contains many key reforms to our nation’s health care system. This law contains the Patient’s Bill of Rights, which implements critical consumer protections into the health care system and prevents insurers from discriminating against those with preexisting conditions. It also grants small businesses billions of dollars in tax credits to provide health care coverage for their employees. In addition, seniors are now saving money on prescription drugs and receiving free preventive care through Medicare. The Affordable Care Act also strengthens Medicare by combatting fraud and closing the Medicare Part D donut hole.
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Americans are seeing lower costs and stronger coverage:
- 105 million Americans have had a lifetime limit on their coverage eliminated.
- Up to 17 million children who have pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied coverage by insurers.
- 2.5 million young adults up to age 26 now have health insurance.
- 5.1 million seniors and people with disabilities have saved $3.2 billion on their prescription drugs.
To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, including the timeline of implementation, please visit: www.healthcare.gov.
In addition to ensuring that every American has access to quality and affordable care, we must fund cutting-edge research towards cures for diseases that take our loved ones away too soon, and disrupt everyday life. I recently introduced H.R. 619, the Collaborative Academic Research Efforts (CARE) for Tourette Syndrome Act, to expand and further coordinate efforts towards research at the National Institutes of Health for this often misunderstood and stigmatized disorder that impacts as many as one in one hundred Americans. While symptoms can be suppressed overtime, too many individuals, particularly children, face the everyday challenge of trying to manage tics whether at school or in various social settings. Through expanded and collaborative research, we can learn more about the cause and treatment of the disorder to help improve the lives of those individuals impacted by Tourette syndrome. To learn more about the CARE for Tourette Syndrome Act, please view my press release on H.R. 619.
More on Health Care
Over the past two weeks in Washington, I reintroduced important legislation, participated in several Subcommittee hearings, met with various constituent organizations, and voted on legislation in the House.
(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Albio Sires and Senator Bob Menendez reintroduced the Collaborative Academic Research Efforts (CARE) for Tourette Syndrome Act to expand and further coordinate efforts towards research for Tourette syndrome. This bill would promote activities at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) aimed at combating and diagnosing Tourette syndrome.
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Congressman Sires voted to oppose legislation that would place restrictions on how women with private health insurance can spend their own money when purchasing health insurance. While Congressman Sires voted against the legislation, H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 242 to 179.
Today I was honored to once again be sworn into office, representing the 8th District of the great state of New Jersey in the 114th Congress. Serving as a Member of Congress is a tremendous privilege and responsibility, and I do not take this commitment lightly. Members of Congress have a critical obligation to their constituents to advocate for their interests on their behalf, and I look forward to serving you over the next two years.
Progress towards a healthier world cannot be made without sustained investments in global health research and development, according to Representative Albio Sires (D-NJ), who spoke at a Congressional briefing on the 21st Century Global Health Technology Act, a bill that would encourage and support USAID’s efforts to advance affordable, culturally appropriate, and easy-to-use health technologies.