WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-NM, released the following statement today after President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act during a ceremony at the White House:
"Today is a new day for health care in our country. New Mexicans have waited generations for health insurance reform. With this new law, we establish a strong foundation to build upon moving forward. While there are still many challenges before us, today we make great progress in our effort to ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care.
"The challenges we face with health care touch every family in America. For too many years, New Mexicans have struggled to find or afford health insurance, or to hang on to policies that get more and more expensive - and more and more restrictive - every day.
"With the President's signature today, all that begins to change. No longer will insurance companies be able to discriminate based on pre-existing conditions. No longer will they be able to dramatically increase rates without public scrutiny. No longer will 32 million Americans worry every day about what would happen to their families if they get sick or are in an accident.
"I am proud to have fought for - and voted in favor of - this historic legislation. Today, New Mexicans begin taking back control of their own health care. Tomorrow, the journey continues. And I pledge to carry on fighting every day to ensure New Mexico families and small businesses have the security and stability that comes with access to quality, affordable health care."
