Pelosi House Leaders, Committee Chairs Remarks at Press Conference on America's Affordable Health C...( WASHINGTON July 17 -- S...),Health

WASHINGTON, July 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, and other House Democrats held a news conference in the Capitol this afternoon to mark the successful passage of the America's Affordable Health Choices Act by Rangel and Miller's committees this morning.

Below are the Speaker's opening remarks, closing statement, and the question and answer session.

Speaker Pelosi Opening Remarks:

"Good morning, and a good morning it is indeed. Our Chairmen have been up very late and have produced historic results for us. The Congress indeed has made stark progress of health insurance reform that will put patients and doctors back in charge and ensure quality, affordable, and accessible health care for America's middle class.

"This level of progress has never been made before. Three major Committees of the House and the Senate have reported out legislation already, two more to go. As you know, the Health Committee in the Senate passed out its bill on, was that Wednesday, Mr. Miller? A couple of days ago. And last night, Mr. Rangel's Ways and Means Committee, was in until the wee small hours of the morning. And he will report on their success and Mr. Miller until 6 a.m. this morning and then back at 9 a.m. to finish off the votes. So they have worked very hard and very wisely on behalf of the American people. And we are here to celebrate success that they have had as we again, make progress and move forward.

"The goals that we have, as you know, are universality, affordability, and accessibility, and we want to do this in a way that continues to lower costs and strengthen the package.

"As America's Affordable Health Choices Act moves through the
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