“Tonight, the House of Representatives stood tall in the face of cynical scare tactics and outright lies and said ‘yes’ to improving health care in this country. Because of today’s historic vote, America’s women and families are one huge step closer to getting the health reform they need. Every person who has been unable to afford health coverage won today. Every woman who was overcharged because of her gender won today. Every person who has been denied coverage because of age or health status won today. Every caregiver who struggles to navigate a fragmented, uncoordinated system won today.

But the real victory will come when the Senate passes reconciliation, and the President signs this final element of health reform into law. Only then will the nation begin reaping the rewards from this historic legislation.

Today’s vote is a huge step on the path to fixing our broken health care system. The end is now in sight for 31 million people who cannot afford insurance and often go without care. The end is now in sight for discriminatory and punitive insurance practices, including caps on coverage when people need it most. The end is now in sight for women being unable to get the prenatal, maternity and preventive care they need, including mammograms. But we need the Senate to get us to the finish line.

And once that work is done, we need both chambers to ensure that women have access to the full range of reproductive health services they need. We ask Congress to finish the job on health reform, and then take the necessary steps to reverse its anti-choice provisions and render the President’s Executive Order null and void. Reform must not come at the expense of women’s health.”