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Pelosi Remarks at SGR Bill Enrollment Ceremony

April 16, 2015

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks today at the SGR bill enrollment ceremony. Below are the Leader's remarks:

"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

"This is a happy day indeed. Thank you for your leadership. I'm pleased to welcome our colleagues from the Senate to the House side – for some of them, back to the House side. And I also want to acknowledge Ron Wyden who has joined, in addition to acknowledging Senator Hatch's leadership.

"It is a doc fix, yes, but it is a remedy for seniors. That's what it's about: our seniors and their ability to access the doctors whom they like, whom they choose. It's also about our children. And I'm particularly happy about the children's health bill – I always call it the S-CHIP, so I have to get all the words in – the S-CHIP, because it was one of the first bills that we sent to President Obama's desk when he first became President, and this continuation of it is very, very important recognition of the priority that our children are to us.

"The Speaker mentioned the community health centers – that's very, very important. And the extension for the community health centers is essential to the health and wellbeing of the American people.

"What's exciting about this is not just that it's a remedy, a doc fix and about the children and everything, it's the manner in which we recognize performance not procedures, value not volume, a quality not quantity of procedures as we compensate doctors for their care.

"As the Speaker said, this has been going on for a long time. And the longer it went, the more expensive it came. So in terms of reducing the deficit as we meet the needs of the American people, it's really great to be here with you, Mr. Speaker, in this bipartisan manner so that you can send the bill to the President. And with that, I'm very pleased in joining the Speaker in welcoming and acknowledging the Majority Leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell."

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Issues:Health Care