[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 140 (Thursday, September 15, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S5848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 561--SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO INCREASE COMPETITION AND 
   ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE, AND TO EXTEND 
ACCESSIBLE, QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE TO EVERY AMERICAN 
             THROUGH THE CHOICE OF A PUBLIC INSURANCE PLAN

  Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Durbin, Mr. 
Sanders, Ms. Stabenow, Mrs. Boxer, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Franken, Mr. 
Whitehouse, Mr. Udall, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. 
Murphy, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Reed, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Casey, 
Mr. Markey, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Bennet, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Warren, Mr. 
Peters, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Leahy, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Mikulski, 
Mr. Reid, and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions:

                              S. Res. 561

       Whereas under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care 
     Act (Public Law 111-148; 124 Stat. 119) (referred to in this 
     preamble as the ``Affordable Care Act''), 20,000,000 
     Americans have gained health insurance coverage, including 
     11,000,000 Americans that have coverage through the public 
     exchanges created by that Act;
       Whereas the uninsured rate is at its lowest point in 
     history, but there is more work to be done to provide access 
     to coverage for Americans that remain uninsured, and to 
     reduce deductibles and out-of-pocket costs for the 31,000,000 
     Americans who are currently underinsured;
       Whereas before the date of enactment of the Affordable Care 
     Act, millions of individuals with preexisting conditions were 
     denied health coverage by insurance companies that controlled 
     who received health care in the United States;
       Whereas profound disparities persist in health outcomes 
     based on race, ethnicity, and geography, and nearly 4,000,000 
     adults, disproportionately people of color, lack coverage as 
     a result of the failure of 19 States to expand the Medicaid 
     program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1396 et seq.) under the Affordable Care Act;
       Whereas public insurance options for workers' compensation 
     insurance have resulted in lower rates for small businesses 
     and more competition in several States;
       Whereas giving all Americans the choice of a public, 
     nonprofit health insurance option would--
       (1) lead to increased competition and reduced premiums;
       (2) cut wasteful spending on administration, marketing, and 
     executive pay; and
       (3) ensure that consumers have the affordable choices they 
     deserve;
       Whereas establishing a State-based public health insurance 
     plan is possible through the use of State innovation waivers 
     established by the Affordable Care Act, which allow States to 
     promote unique, creative, and innovative approaches to 
     implementing meaningful health care reform, including a 
     public option;
       Whereas public programs such as the Medicare program under 
     title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et 
     seq.) often deliver care more cost-effectively by limiting 
     administrative overhead and securing better prices from 
     providers; and
       Whereas the Congressional Budget Office has found that a 
     public health insurance option would save taxpayers billions 
     of dollars: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate supports efforts to build on the 
     Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-
     148; 124 Stat. 119) by ensuring that, in addition to the 
     health coverage options provided by private insurers, every 
     American has access to a public health insurance option, 
     which, when established, will--
       (1) strengthen competition;
       (2) improve affordability for families by reducing premiums 
     and increasing choices; and
       (3) save American taxpayers billions of dollars.

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