Press Releases :: July 17, 2009

House Committee Begins Consideration of Health Care Legislation

Baldwin Amendments Adopted

Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee began the work of marking up America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200), a plan for health care reform that promises to lower costs, provide better care, and keep our insurance industry competitive and fair for all consumers.

“For the first time in more than six decades, as we begin to transform our economy and reclaim our stake in the American Dream, health care for all is within our grasp. I am proud to bring Wisconsin’s common sense and good ideas to this effort,” said Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, who sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee and its Health Subcommittee.

In the first day of the mark-up, two amendments offered by Congresswoman Baldwin were accepted. The first, offered with Congressman Michael Burgess (R-TX), will create a new educational campaign to raise awareness of the need for advanced care planning, and establish a toll-free hotline and clearinghouse through the Department of Health and Human Services to provide public information about advanced care planning issues. “Families and their loved ones deserve access to information about all of the options for end-of-life care. They need to know what is necessary to ensure that their wishes are honored,” said Baldwin.

The second provision, offered with a small bipartisan group of Members, creates a new grant program for educational institutions to develop mental and behavioral health training programs. Mental health and substance abuse problems underlie many health problems; yet we lack a sufficient workforce to respond to the significant patient needs. “Experts estimate that, over the next ten years, we will have a nearly 90% shortfall in the necessary professionals in addiction medicine. This is the result of schools not producing a sufficient number of trained professionals. This funding stream will save lives and keep families together by helping support pioneering mental and behavioral health training programs,” Baldwin said.

The mark-up will continue next week and Baldwin expects to offer more amendments.