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Below are some of the key provisions that will take effect immediately.  You may also want to view this interactive summary: http://majorityleader.gov/HCRFirstYear/ 1.      SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDITS—Offers tax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage more affordable.    Tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums will be immediately available to firms that choose to offer… Read more »

Several myths about efforts to improve health insurance for Americans.  Five of those myths are addressed here. Answers to common questions can be found here: http://www.healthreform.gov/about/answers.html MYTH #1: Health insurance reform is a “government takeover.” FACT:  Health insurance improvement legislation expands private health insurance in America, and is based on increasing… Read more »

The health insurance reform bill offers tax credits on premiums and provides families and small businesses with the largest tax cut for health care in history.  Health insurance reform will create a new Health Insurance Exchange for individuals and employees of small businesses to allow them to comparison shop for coverage. This Exchange will empower consumer's health insurance… Read more »

Under the current broken health insurance system, businesses and middle class families are paying more and more each year.  Growth in annual health insurance costs are outstripping average wage increases. As a result of these crushing health care costs, American businesses are losing their ability to compete in the global marketplace. Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have… Read more »

Health insurance reform legislation will make health care affordable for the middle class, provide security for seniors, guarantee access to health insurance for the uninsured  and reduce the federal deficit by over $100 billion over the next decade. The text and summary of the bill have been available online: http://rules.house.gov/bills_details.aspx?NewsID=4606   Benefits to the 13th… Read more »

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a budget score of health insurance reform legislation. Based on a preliminary analysis from CBO, the legislation: CUTS THE DEFICIT Cuts the deficit by $138 billion in the first ten years (2010 – 2019). Cuts the deficit by $1.2 trillion in the second ten years. REINS IN WASTEFUL MEDICARE COSTS AND EXTENDS THE SOLVENCY OF MEDICARE;… Read more »

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 67th annual Red Cross Month. For more than 125 years, the mission of the American Red Cross has been to help individuals and families prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies, and each year, nearly half of a million volunteers respond to more than 70,000 disasters nationwide. I am particularly proud of the American Red Cross and its… Read more »

On December 24, 2009, the Senate passed its version of the health care bill, H.R. 3590, entitled “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009.” On November 7, 2009, the House passed H.R. 3962, the “Affordable Health Care for America Act.”  While there are many similar provisions in both bills, significant differences remain must now be negotiated between the House and Senate… Read more »

For the latest information on prvention, treatment, vaccine availability, myth busting, and other vital information for both the H1N1 and seasonal flu, check out flu.gov. The wealth of information available will help keep you and your family safe and healthy this flu season. Read more »

As the holiday season begins, food safety and travel conditions come to the forefront of our minds. Please visit the following sites to help you and your family to have a safe and enjoyable holiday season: Food Safety: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Seasonal_Food_Safety_Fact_Sheets/index.asp Georgia Highway conditions: http://www.georgia-navigator.com/ Flight delays:… Read more »