Health Care Reform Passage; Unemployment Benefit Extension - November 6, 2009
November 6, 2009
Dear Friend,
Thank you for reading another edition of my e-newsletter, the Carson Courier. For additional information on these and other topics, please visit my website at https://www.carson.house.gov.
In this week's Carson Courier:
Passing Landmark Health Care Reform Legislation
Extending Benefits for Unemployed Hoosiers
PASSING LANDMARK HEALTH CARE REFORM LEGISLATION
After a long and productive debate that has included Hoosiers of all backgrounds and opinions, I am pleased that within the next few days the House will finally vote to pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act. This monumental legislation will make health care affordable for the middle class, provide security for seniors, and guarantee access to health insurance coverage for the uninsured — while responsibly reducing the federal deficit for future generations of Americans.
Among the many benefits the Affordable Health Care for Americans Act will bring to Indiana's 7th Congressional District, this legislation will:
§ Improve employer-based coverage for 344,000 residents.
§ Provide credits to help pay for coverage for up to 201,000 households.
§ Improve Medicare for 89,000 beneficiaries, including closing the prescription drug donut hole for 6,400 seniors.
§ Allow 18,600 small businesses to obtain affordable health care coverage and provide tax credits to help reduce health insurance costs for up to 15,500 small businesses.
§ Provide coverage for 81,000 uninsured residents.
§ Protect up to 2,400 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.
§ Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and health care providers by $274 million.
This is only the start of how local residents will benefit from this landmark piece of legislation. As the Affordable Health Care for America Act passes the House and the issues is taken up in the Senate, I look forward to communicating more about how this landmark bill will bring affordable, accessible, quality health care to residents across the 7th District.
EXTENDING BENEFITS FOR UNEMPLOYED HOOSIERS
This week, I had an opportunity to join my House colleagues in voting to extend unemployment benefits, the homebuyers' tax credit, and tax relief for military families and small businesses.
The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act will provide families in all states with 14 additional weeks of unemployment benefits. Beyond this preliminary increase, an additional six weeks is provided to states with the highest unemployment rates—including Indiana—for a total of 20 additional weeks of emergency unemployment compensation.
With this increase, families across our city will not only be able to make ends meet for themselves and their families; they will be investing our local economy—buying groceries, filling their cars with gas, and making their mortgage payments on time.
The critical legislation also seeks to boost our economy by extending both the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit and tax breaks for small businesses, which have suffered loses in this recession. These tax credits will spur home sales while encouraging the growth of our nation's small businesses—both of which are critical to putting our economy back on sound footing.
I was proud to support this legislation, which I truly believe will play a critical role in helping thousands of Hoosiers make it through these tough times. I look forward to the President signing it into law soon.
Thank you for reading the Carson Courier. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and concerns. I value your views and your input which help me to better represent the people of Indiana's 7th District in Congress.