Washington, D.C. – Congressman Wally Herger (R-CA), Ranking Member of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Health, issued the following statement in support of the Republican health care solution:

“America needs commonsense health care reform and all they’ve gotten from Speaker Pelosi and President Obama are plans for bigger government, higher taxes, and rationed care. The alternative solution that I’m supporting is focused on bringing down health care costs, improving access to care, and promoting prevention and wellness without adding to the crushing debt that Washington’s overspending places on our children and grandchildren. This bill is good for families, small businesses, and our economic future. It addresses Americans’ number one priority for health care reform – cost. Because this bill reins in frivolous lawsuits, reduces waste, fraud and abuse in government programs, and increases competition by allowing people to purchase insurance across state lines, health insurance premiums would go down and the American people would have more money in their pockets. Importantly, this alternative solution corrects several problems that exist in the insurance market but it does so without massively raising premium costs for everyone else. Our legislation would prevent an insurance company from unjustly cancelling a policy when someone gets sick or cutting off coverage for people with catastrophic medical conditions. Every American, regardless of pre-existing condition, should have access to affordable health insurance and our solution accomplishes this by funding state-based universal access programs and eliminating waiting lists for coverage. We can reform health care without spending more than a trillion dollars to do so.

“Since the health care debate began, Speaker Pelosi and Congressional Democrats have been trying to force through a government-run health care system without listening to what the American people really want. I’m pleased to support a solution that achieves the public’s top priority of reining in out-of-control health care costs without adding to the deficit or raising taxes. I urge my colleagues to reject Speaker Pelosi’s radical plan for government-run health care and instead support our commonsense solution.”

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