By U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee)WASHINGTON, DC -- I am writing this op-ed to set the record straight, answer questions, and clarify the significant role I was able to play in the historic health care legislation passed by Congress.
During my 18 years as a member of Congress, I have cast some very difficult votes. These include issues such as declaring war in Iraq and Afghanistan, military action in Bosnia and Kosovo, the impeachment of President Clinton and my vote in favor of the Clinton Deficit Reduction Package in 1993. My recent vote on health care reform was the most difficult yet.
My staff and I spent many hours reading the legislation, conducting research and talking with constituents in northern Michigan and throughout the country. In the final analysis, I was proud to vote for this historic legislation that will provide 32 million more Americans with access to affordable, quality health insurance. This legislation will provide important consumer protections and will keep families who require medical care from declaring bankruptcy.
H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, is good for America and it is good for northern Michigan. Under this legislation 44,000 uninsured residents in Michigan’s First Congressional District will have access to affordable health care.
Small businesses immediately receive tax credits to assist owners in providing health care coverage for employees. Consumer protections prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against individuals with pre-existing conditions, extend insurance coverage for dependent children up to age 26, prevent health plans from dropping insurance coverage when people become sick, and eliminate lifetime caps so insurance coverage doesn’t run out before treatment is complete.
For seniors, health care reform includes key improvements to Medicare. H.R. 3590 will immediately begin to close the Medicare prescription drug donut hole by providing a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the donut hole in 2010. Ultimately the donut hole will be closed completely to ensure that seniors pay less out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs. The bill will also eliminate Medicare co-payments for annual physical exams and preventative screenings beginning January 1, 2011.
Last November with the Stupak amendment, I was successful in making sure the health care reform bill in the U.S. House of Representatives maintained current law as stated in the Hyde language of no public funding for abortions. I was disappointed the Senate could not uphold my language and only mustered 45 pro-life votes, far short of the 60 votes needed to keep the amendment intact.
Many of my Democratic pro-life colleagues and I worked tirelessly leading up to the final vote on health care to strengthen the abortion funding restrictions. We proposed numerous procedural and legislative options to strengthen the language, but ultimately all of our efforts required the 60 votes which we could not secure in the Senate.
Once it was clear that House leadership would eventually secure the necessary 216 votes to pass health care reform, I was left with a choice: vote against the legislation with inadequate protections for life or reach an agreement that prevents federal funding for abortions.
Therefore, I and other pro-life Democrats negotiated an agreement with President Obama to issue an Executive Order that would ensure that Hyde language protections of no public funding for abortions would apply to the health care reform bill. The president himself has said this Executive Order is "iron clad." Throughout history, Executive Orders have carried the full force and effect of law and have served as an important means of implementing public policy.*
To further protect against federal funding for abortion, during floor debate on the health care reform bill I engaged in a colloquy with Chairman Henry Waxman to make clear Congressional intent that the provisions in the health care reform legislation, combined with the Executive Order, will ensure no federal funding of abortions.
I have said from the start that my goal was to see health care reform for all Americans while maintaining the longstanding principle of the sanctity of life. The president’s Executive Order upholds this principle and current law that no federal funds will be used for abortion. I am pleased I was able to hold true to my principles and vote for a health care bill that is pro-life at every stage of life and provides 32 million more Americans with access to quality, affordable health care.
Editor's Notes: Keweenaw Now is publishing this op-ed piece in its entirety. Congressman Stupak's office sent it to us with a request that we share it with our readers.
* See the March 25, 2010, article, "Stupak attends Executive Order signing."
See also our Jan. 9, 2010, article, "Stupak attracts large crowd at town hall meeting in Houghton."
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