Then the 111th Congress went on to pass the health care reform bill. This new bill makes sure that there is no gender discrimination in health care premiums. Before this bill was instituted insurance companies charged women more than men for health insurance because have a “pre-existing condition” known as child bearing. Furthermore, the new bill insures that no one will be dropped by their healthcare provider for a pre-existing condition. In addition to that, the new law will make sure that more uninsured people get the health care insurance they need so that they do not have to visit the emergency rooms which are the most expensive. Over the next three years many things in the health care reform bill will have to be finalized. Little kinks will come up as the bill is put into action across the nation.
Next on the table for the 111th Congress is Financial reform. The Senate and the Congress bills for financial reforms have to be merged and passed. Congresswoman declared that she will get the bill to include something for small business owners in the system. Right now, small businesses in American have a very hard time borrowing money for their businesses. Normally these business owners would have been able to borrow money for their business against their homes but now that home prices have plummeted and banks have made credit tighter and tighter money is not available for small business investment. Congresswoman Sanchez wants to make sure that there is a provision for small business owners.
With this the Congresswoman wrapped her speech. The speech was followed by a question and answer session and refreshments.