Raúl voted in favor of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the most significant overhaul of American health care policy in decades. During the debate over what shape the bill would take, he was a prominent supporter of a public option and fought successfully to have one included in the House-passed version of the bill. He remains committed to improving health care delivery and affordability and to ensuring that peoples’ livelihoods are not undermined by excessive bottom-line thinking in the health insurance industry.

Raúl is an original cosponsor of the following important bills in the 111th Congress, which began Jan. 6, 2009. His advocacy and organizing have played a central role in improving the availability and affordability of health care in this country.

Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act (HR 676) – To provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage and improved health care delivery for all United States residents.

Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments – To revise and extend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

Prevention First Act – To expand access to preventive health care services that help reduce unintended pregnancy, reduce abortions, and improve access to women’s health care.

Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) Act – To promote the economic security and safety of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

All Healthy Children Act – To provide health insurance coverage for children and pregnant women throughout the United States by combining the children and pregnant woman health coverage under Medicaid and SCHIP into a new All Healthy Children Program.

Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act – To allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums.

Prescription Coverage Now Act – To assist low-income individuals in obtaining subsidized prescription drug coverage under the Medicare prescription drug program by expediting the application and qualification process and by revising the resource standards used to determine eligibility for such subsidies.

Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act – To restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers.