For the first time in America's history, all Americans will have access to quality, affordable health care under updated health insurance reform legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives today. The legislation will cover 96 percent of Americans by 2015, while reducing the deficit by tens of billions of dollars over the next decade. The House approved the measure by a vote of 220 to 215.

Today, the House of Representatives debates the Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962. The three panels with jurisdiction over health policy in the House have been working together as one committee to develop a single bill that fulfills President Obama's goals of reducing health care costs, protecting and increasing consumers' choices, and guaranteeing access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

Chairman Henry A. Waxman spoke on the House floor today in support of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. 

Today the House of Representatives passed by a vote of 230 to 193 the Chemical and Water Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2868).  The bill strengthens security at America's chemical plants and drinking water and wastewater facilities by establishing risk-based and reasonable security standards for these critical assets.  H.R. 2868 reauthorizes the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program, which is slated to expire October 2010, and improves the program in many ways.  It also authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish similar security programs for drinking water and wastewater facilities.

Today Chairman Henry A. Waxman released the following statement in response to an open letter to Congress from 11 leading health economists regarding H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act: