Pelosi: Health Care Legislation Will Be on the House Floor by the End of July

WASHINGTON, May 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – President Barack Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke at a press availability following a meeting on health care reform this morning at the White House among the President, the Speaker, Vice President Joe Biden, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Chairmen Charles Rangel, Henry Waxman, and George Miller. Below are the Speaker’s remarks; the White House will provide a transcript of the President’s remarks.

“Good morning. Thank you, Mr. President.

“We just completed a very productive meeting with the President, including our leader, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, our three chairs of the committees of jurisdiction, who are working together, in unison, on quality, affordable, accessible health care for all Americans: Mr. Rangel of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Miller of the Education and Labor Committee, and Mr. Waxman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

“Our goal is to have a healthier America. Our legislation will be on the floor by the end of July — I am quite certain — and that is really cause for celebration for the American people.

“The President’s commitment to making our country healthier — again, with affordable, accessible and quality health care, where every person, if he or she likes the plan they have, can keep that plan. Also recognizing that health care reform is entitlement reform, and this is about cost — taking down the cost of health care to the Americans, to our economy and to our budget.

“So, it’s a very important day. We’re grateful to the President for his leadership. We couldn’t possibly be at this point without that leadership and we promise him that we will have this important legislation on the floor of the House before the August break.

“Thank you Mr. President for your leadership.”

[President Obama speaks.]

“Mr. President, may I say something? Because you talked about what happened this week, but I think it’s important to know that under your leadership, since you became President, whether it was signing and taking the lead on the SCHIP — the children’s health insurance bill — the health IT that is in the recovery package — and other legislation as we have gone along.

“Under your leadership and working with this Congress, you have done more to promote health care, to move it along — prevention, technology, biomedical research, children’s health, veterans’ health — than has been done in our country since Medicare was established in the [1960s].

“So already you have a remarkable record. We’re down the path. We’re going to get the job done. But I thank you for the leadership you have provided already this year.”

SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House