TRENTON – Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex) chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, issued the following statement on the U.S. Senate’s passage of the healthcare bill:
“Passage of health insurance reform by the U.S. Senate this morning marks a historic moment in our Nation’s history, and two New Jersey lawmakers were instrumental in this accomplishment.
“Senator Robert Menendez, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, played a critical role in ensuring New Jerseyans will benefit from the cost-control and comprehensive consumer protection measures contained in the bill. Our state’s economy will benefit from investments in biotechnology, our health care providers will benefit from better Medicare reimbursement and our employers will benefit from premium stabilization.
“Congressman Frank Pallone, who is chairman of the House Subcommittee on Health, has been a key player in crafting this historic legislation. I’m sure he will continue to work closely with Senator Menendez as the conference committee works to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the bill. I am confident we are on the precipice of achieving meaningful and comprehensive healthcare reform.”