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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 145
BY REPRESENTATIVE NORTON
HEALTH CARE: Acknowledges the milestones in healthcare reform reached in the U.S.
since enactment of the Affordable Care Act
A RESOLUTION1
To acknowledge and commemorate the historic milestones in healthcare reform that our2
nation has reached since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010.3
WHEREAS, the Affordable Care Act consists of the following Acts of Congress,4
collectively:5
(1) The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which originated as H.R. 35906
in the One Hundred Eleventh United States Congress and became Public Law No. 111-148.7
(2) The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, which originated as H.R.8
4872 in the One Hundred Eleventh United States Congress and became Public Law No.9
111-152; and10
WHEREAS, since its enactment in 2010, the Affordable Care Act, or "ACA", has11
instituted monumental health policy reforms and is reshaping the way virtually all12
Americans receive and finance their health care; and13
WHEREAS, among the key features of the ACA are rights and protections for14
healthcare consumers, accountability measures for insurance companies, expanded eligibility15
for medical assistance for working families, and a requirement that every American maintain16
a minimum level of health insurance coverage; and17
WHEREAS, since its inception in the fall of 2013, the health insurance exchange18
created by the ACA overcame technical challenges and enrolled seven million one hundred19
thousand Americans in health coverage by the March 31, 2014, enrollment deadline, far20
surpassing the projections of congressional analysts; and21 HLS 14RS-5287 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 145
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WHEREAS, the purposes of the ACA are to enhance access by millions of1
Americans to health care, modernize our nation's health system, and set forth policies to2
fight waste, fraud, and abuse that are unprecedented in their scope and effectiveness; and3
WHEREAS, from March 23, 2010, when the ACA was signed into law and insurance4
companies lost their power to cancel or deny coverage based on preexisting conditions, and5
to charge women more than men, to March 31, 2014, when the number of Americans to gain6
coverage through the ACA's health insurance exchange topped seven million, the ACA7
brought to fruition landmark reforms in healthcare policy; and8
WHEREAS, as the law of the land, the ACA continues to represent true progress for9
our nation today.10
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the11
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby acknowledge and commemorate the historic milestones12
in healthcare reform that our nation has reached since the enactment of the Affordable Care13
Act in 2010.14
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the15
president of the United States of America, the presiding officers of the Senate and the House16
of Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America, and to each member of17
the Louisiana congressional delegation.18
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Norton HR No. 145
Acknowledges and commemorates the historic milestones in healthcare reform that our
nation has reached since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010.