III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 561 

Supporting efforts to increase competition and accountability in the health 

insurance marketplace, and to extend accessible, quality, affordable health 

care coverage to every American through the choice of a public insurance 

plan. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 

Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. SCHUMER, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. 

SANDERS, Ms. STABENOW, Mrs. BOXER, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. 

FRANKEN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. UDALL, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. BROWN, 

Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. REED, Mr. 

CARDIN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. CASEY, Mr. MARKEY, Mrs. SHAHEEN, 

Mr. BENNET, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. WARREN, Mr. PETERS, Mr. SCHATZ, 

Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. LEAHY, Ms. HIRONO, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. REID, and 

Ms. KLOBUCHAR) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting efforts to increase competition and accountability 

in the health insurance marketplace, and to extend accessible, quality, affordable health care coverage to every 

American through the choice of a public insurance plan. 

Whereas under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care 

Act (Public Law 111–148; 124 Stat. 119) (referred to in 

this preamble as the ‘‘Affordable Care Act’’), 20,000,000 

Americans have gained health insurance coverage, includVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:44 Sep 16, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR561.IS SR561

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•SRES 561 IS 

ing 11,000,000 Americans that have coverage through 

the public exchanges created by that Act; 

Whereas the uninsured rate is at its lowest point in history, 

but there is more work to be done to provide access to 

coverage for Americans that remain uninsured, and to reduce deductibles and out-of-pocket costs for the 

31,000,000 Americans who are currently underinsured; 

Whereas before the date of enactment of the Affordable Care 

Act, millions of individuals with preexisting conditions 

were denied health coverage by insurance companies that 

controlled who received health care in the United States; 

Whereas profound disparities persist in health outcomes 

based on race, ethnicity, and geography, and nearly 

4,000,000 adults, disproportionately people of color, lack 

coverage as a result of the failure of 19 States to expand 

the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) under the Affordable 

Care Act; 

Whereas public insurance options for workers’ compensation 

insurance have resulted in lower rates for small businesses and more competition in several States; 

Whereas giving all Americans the choice of a public, nonprofit health insurance option would— 

(1) lead to increased competition and reduced premiums; 

(2) cut wasteful spending on administration, marketing, and executive pay; and 

(3) ensure that consumers have the affordable 

choices they deserve; 

Whereas establishing a State-based public health insurance 

plan is possible through the use of State innovation waivVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:44 Sep 16, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR561.IS SR561

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•SRES 561 IS 

ers established by the Affordable Care Act, which allow 

States to promote unique, creative, and innovative approaches to implementing meaningful health care reform, 

including a public option; 

Whereas public programs such as the Medicare program 

under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

1395 et seq.) often deliver care more cost-effectively by 

limiting administrative overhead and securing better 

prices from providers; and 

Whereas the Congressional Budget Office has found that a 

public health insurance option would save taxpayers billions of dollars: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate supports efforts to build 

2 on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public 

3 Law 111–148; 124 Stat. 119) by ensuring that, in addi4 tion to the health coverage options provided by private in5 surers, every American has access to a public health insur6 ance option, which, when established, will— 

7 (1) strengthen competition; 

8 (2) improve affordability for families by reduc9 ing premiums and increasing choices; and 

10 (3) save American taxpayers billions of dollars. 

Æ 


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