Congressman Bright's statement on voting against H.R. 3692, the Affordable Health Care for America Act: 

"After months of deliberation, the House passed its version of a health care reform bill tonight.  Because my concerns were not addressed, I voted against the Affordable Health Care for America Act."

“The bill passed would actually increase the federal government’s budgetary commitment to health care after 2019, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.  As it stands, our spending on health care is set to expand exponentially, rising to approximately 30% of our entire budget within the next 30 years.  By all accounts, this is unsustainable.

 “Moreover, H.R. 3962 contains a government option, to which I am opposed, and surcharges and mandates on small businesses and individuals.  People across the country are struggling to make ends meet and this is no time to place additional burdens on them.  

“There are some basic changes I think would help us reach many of our shared health care reform goals.  Discrimination based on pre-existing conditions and the arbitrary dropping of coverage should be prohibited.  I support allowing businesses and individuals the opportunity to purchase insurance from entities beyond their state lines to help foster greater competition.  Medical liability reform should also be seriously addressed in any health care reform. 

“I believe we do need health care cost reform, but cost reform that doesn’t fundamentally change a system with which most Americans are satisfied.  I fear this bill will not reduce long-term costs, and our debt and deficits will suffer and balloon in the years ahead.  I will remain a firm no on any future health care bills that do not adequately address these concerns.” 

Congressman Bright voted in favor of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment during debate on the Affordable Health Care for America Act.  The amendment will ensure continuation of the Hyde Amendment, which bars federal funding for any elective abortion services, in H.R. 3962.  Bright has long called for specific prohibitions on federal funding for abortion in any health care bill.  He also supported a Republican amendment that would have added medical liability reform to the final bill.