Bruce Josten, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
"With the passage of H.R. 3962, the health care bill, the House missed a significant opportunity to advance reasonable and meaningful health reform that fundamentally changes how the health care system operates and changes the overall upward trajectory in spending. American employers and employees want an improvement in the nation's health care system, not an unsustainable, unaffordable overhaul. Friday's news that unemployment has reached double digits for the first time in 26 years should have been a wake-up call for those considering job-stifling tax increases and employer mandates included in the House health care bill. Expanding coverage is an imperative; it is also imperative that the nation is moving on a credible and sustainable fiscal path. Unfortunately, in addition to the massive new tax burdens on individuals and small business owners, the health care reform bill just passed by the House of Representatives fails the crucial test of reducing the soaring cost of health coverage for businesses or individuals. We urge the Senate to listen to the American people and reject the House's partisan approach to health care."

Robert Kraig, executive director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin
"It is very rare that a vote can be called 'historic,' but the vote Saturday night certainly was. Despite health care reform efforts that go all the way back to Theodore Roosevelt, this is the first time that any comprehensive health care reform bill has ever been passed by either house of Congress. By a narrow margin that would have been shifted by a change in 3 votes, Congress has taken a great step for the people of Wisconsin in passing the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Those who voted yes proved they were on the side of the American people and not the big insurance companies and special interests that have been working overtime to try and kill meaningful health care reform. Because of the strong support from members of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation to do what is right for their constituents, we can look forward to having more affordable health coverage with good, comprehensive benefits, and true choice and competition in the health insurance marketplace."

Erin Musgrave, Small Business Majority
"The passage today of H.R. 3962 by the US House of Representatives was historic. We are finally within reach of effecting real change-change that has been hard fought, is long overdue and essential to small businesses' survival. Providing America's 28 million small business owners with high-quality, affordable healthcare got one huge step closer to becoming a reality today. Small business owners have been mired in a healthcare system that burdens them with inordinate costs, threatens their competitiveness and discourages entrepreneurship. Economic research we released in June shows that without healthcare reform, small business owners will pay nearly $2.4 trillion over the next 10 years to provide health insurance for their employees. Clearly, the cost of doing nothing is too high, and failing to pass healthcare reform legislation this year is unacceptable. We're pleased to see adjustments to the bill that will benefit small businesses in particular. These include short-term relief through a high-risk pool set to start in 2010, requiring insurers to justify premium increases to discourage price gouging, a requirement that health plans spend at least 85 percent of premium dollars on medical care and individual plans available in the exchange that would save the 22 million self-employed 25 percent on their premiums in 2016. These provisions, along with tax credits, a robust national exchange and strong market reform-specifically the elimination of preexisting condition rules-will go a long way toward getting small businesses the relief they desperately need. With that said, there's still more work to do. As we await the final Senate bill, it is imperative that all stakeholders remain constructively engaged and focused on enacting comprehensive healthcare reform this year. There are good provisions in the Senate bill that can be merged with H.R. 3962 to improve the final bill-specifically additional measures to lower costs. Today was a good day for small business and America, and we must maintain this momentum if we are to succeed. We've come too far to stop now."

Robert Nesse, M.D., president and CEO, Franciscan Skemp Healthcare (La Crosse), Mayo Health System
"The status quo is not acceptable. What we see in health care right now in the United States is tremendous amounts of duplication of services that are not necessary. About 30 percent of the money we spend on health care could be saved if we were all practicing at the best standards of quality and efficiency. The House bill's provision calling for an Institute of Medicine study and recommendations will move us in the right direction. I look forward to continue working with Congressman Kind to achieve a final product that moves Medicare toward a model that rewards value."

David Newby, president of Wisconsin AFL-CIO
"When the House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act, working families found out who their real friends are, and Rep. Moore is at the top of the list. Residents of the fourth congressional district can be proud that Rep. Moore cast one of the deciding votes to put us closer than we have been in the last 60 years to achieving real health insurance reform. Rep. Moore has been a champion for health care reform. In voting for the Affordable Health Care for America Act, Rep. Moore stood up to the insurance company fat cats who have fought so hard to maintain the status quo. She said 'no' to insurance company denials and discriminations due to pre-existing conditions. She said 'no' to the insurance company stranglehold on 94 percent of the markets and told insurance companies they now have to compete. Rep. Moore said 'yes' to fairness, competition, security and stability in our health care system. She voted for a plan that provides health insurance to 96 percent of Americans, pays for itself, and reduces the deficit. Saturday's vote was a rare vote of conscience that distinguished which members of Congress truly represent the will of the people. We thank Rep. Moore for standing with the working men and women who sent her to Washington and we will honor her commitment by continuing to stand with her. It is very exciting that we are so close to winning genuine health insurance reform and we will redouble our efforts to finish the job."

Barry Rand, CEO of AARP
"AARP is pleased that the House has passed the Affordable Health Care for American Act. This bill meets our goals of improving Medicare's benefits and making critical health insurance market reforms that make coverage more affordable. Our nation is now closer than ever to a health care system that actually works for all Americans. For too long, insurance companies have taken advantage of discriminatory practices to cherry pick the most profitable customers. And for too long, the high costs of prescription drugs have forced seniors to choose between their medications and other necessities. We must fix this broken, inequitable system. This legislation protects Medicare and ensures that it will be there for today's seniors and for the future generations. The bill makes prescription drugs more affordable for people in Medicare by closing the program's dangerous gap in drug coverage and allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. It adds cost-free preventive services like cancer screenings and cracks down on waste and fraud to protect and strengthen traditional Medicare benefits. In addition, the legislation provides benefits to help seniors and people with disabilities live in their own homes and communities by establishing the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program. For all Americans, especially those age 50 to 64 who often struggle to find affordable insurance, this plan strictly limits how much more insurance companies can charge based on age, and stops insurers from denying coverage based on a person's health history or gender. For those who still cannot find affordable coverage on their own, this bill offers help so they can purchase insurance. We thank those representatives who voted for this landmark legislation, and we urge those members who did not support health care reform tonight to reconsider the needs of their constituents when this issue returns to the House for a final vote."

J. James Rohack, M.D., president of the American Medical Association
"The AMA hails the passage of the House health reform bill, which will help improve the health system for patients and physicians and calls for swift passage of H.R. 3961 to secure the stability of the Medicare program. Passage of the House health reform bill is a big step forward as we work for comprehensive health reform this year. The AMA will continue its work with Congress and the administration to strengthen and improve health reform legislation as the process continues for patients and physicians. The bill will significantly expand health insurance coverage to Americans; empower patient and physician decision making; institute meaningful insurance market reforms; make substantial investments in quality; institute prevention and wellness initiatives; provide incentives to states that adopt certificate of merit and/or early offer liability reforms, and reduce administrative burdens. As Congress considers new coverage commitments to the American people through health reform, it must ensure that commitments already made are fulfilled through passage of the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 (H.R. 3961). This bill will permanently repeal the broken physician payment formula and preserve access to care for seniors, baby boomers and military families."