ATHENS — U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., believes President Barack Obama will have a health care reform bill signed into law before Christmas.
Rahall, who voted in favor of the Affordable Health Care for America Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, said he expects the U.S. Senate to approve the measure before the year’s end.
“I am very proud of the action the House of Representatives has taken,” Rahall said Monday during a stop at Concord University in Mercer County. “Health care costs continue to skyrocket. This legislation I think will finally get it under control.”
While a lengthier debate is expected in the U.S. Senate, Rahall said he still expects Senate approval of a health care reform measure before Christmas.
“I hope to have a bill on the president’s desk by the end of the year,” Rahall said.
If the health care debate were to linger into 2010, passage of the legislation would become more difficult, Rahall said citing the upcoming political season and the mid-term congressional elections.
Rahall, who conducted several town hall meetings across southern West Virginia in August on the topic of health care reform, said he voted to bring an end to the moment when a diagnosis becomes a death sentence for those without health insurance.
The region’s congressional delegation was split on the health care vote in the House. U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., voted against the measure out of a concern that a government operated health insurance plan could impact hospitals in Southwest Virginia.
Rahall said the measure approved by the House will help to bring affordable and quality health care insurance to Americans.
— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com
Local News
November 9, 2009
Rahall: Quick Senate approval expected for health care overhaul
- Local News
-
- Officials in Tazewell County looking forward to breaking ground on ATV trail system
-
Slick conditions result in several vehicle accidents
-
Love flourishes for state’s longest-married couple
-
Bradshaw helped push AAU team to victory
-
Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies
-
Big acts coming to Classic
Just two years into a six-year contract, The Greenbrier Classic took the coveted “Best in Class Tournament on the PGA TOUR” award, a distinction given by the PGA TOUR itself.
-
Demolition work underway on coal tipple in Vansant
-
Officials marketing nearly-finished Bluestone park to potential tenants
- UPDATE: Greenbrier bringing in big names for golf tournament
- AFTERNOON UPDATE: Snow expected tonight in two Virginias
- More Local News Headlines
