Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

U.S. SENATOR Jeff Bingaman

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Contact Senator Bingaman's Office:

Jude McCartin
Maria Najera
703 Hart Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5521

Bingaman On Hand for White House Bill Signing That Expands Health Insurance Coverage & Contains Rapidly Rising Costs

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman went to the White House this morning to witness President Obama signing health insurance reform into law.  Bingaman was a key author of the legislation.

"This is an historic day - one that will have a very positive impact on New Mexico families," Bingaman said.  "Because of this new law, insurance companies can no longer decide to cancel health care coverage for a New Mexican who has a pre-existing medical condition.  New Mexicans will no longer be forced to pay higher premiums to cover the health care costs of their uninsured neighbors."

"This law will help contain rapidly rising health care costs that are hitting New Mexico families hard, particularly during this economic downturn.  It also will expand affordable and quality care to the hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans who have been living without health insurance.  And it will do so in a way that will help us reduce the national deficit by $1 trillion over the next two decades," he said.  "In enacting this legislation, we have taken a giant step forward in fixing our broken health care system."

Later this week, the Senate is expected to pass a much smaller bill that will make adjustments to the new law.

Read a summary of the legislation online.