April | 2014 | Be a Seed for Change

The ACA Has Spurred The Largest Expansion In Health Coverage In America In Half A Century

CREDIT: @THEJBARR

Today marks the last day of the six-month open enrollment period for people to get insurance coverage through the state and federal marketplaces. Despite technical challenges and staunch ideological opposition, it has already been a huge success with over six million people enrolling. But in the last several days, the interest in signing up and the outreach efforts to those not yet covered has reached new heights.

Take a look at the final surge by the numbers:

9.5 Million: Number Of Uninsured That Now Have Insurance Thanks To The ACA. A new analysis of enrollment data has found that almost ten million people who were previously without health insurance now are covered. The report estimates that two million have enrolled in private coverage on the new marketplaces; about 4.5 million previously uninsured people have gained public coverage through Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion; and about three million previously uninsured young people are now covered on their parents’ insurance plans. The law, as written by the Los Angeles Times, “has spurred the largest expansion in health coverage in America in half a century.”
10 million: Number Of Visits To Heathcare.gov In The Past Week. The Washington Post tallied 8.7 million in the past week through Monday morning, with 2 million visiting this weekend alone. Today, the Department of Health and Human Services tweeted that there had been another 1.2 million visitors just by noon–”record volume.”
125,000: The Number Of Concurrent Users On Healthcare.gov On Monday. An unprecedented level of traffic on the website has led to an unprecedented number of people using the site to sign up for health insurance.
4,000: Number Of Grassroots Events To Help People Enroll In March. For all the money spent over the airwaves, grassroots organizing was a huge component of outreach efforts to get people signed up for coverage. Events took place all over the country, with a focus on reaching the uninsured to make sure they had the information they needed to enroll.
300: Number of Radio Interviews Administration Officials Have Given In The Past Six Weeks. While there have been enormous efforts to use new media to promote the law, good old-fashioned radio has been a go-to source for top White House officials: from Chief-of-Staff Denis McDonough and Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett to President Obama himself.
49 Percent: Public Support For The ACA. According to a ABC News/Washington Post poll out today, support for the law is at 49 percent, its highest level in months. Back in November, just 40 percent supported and 57 percent opposed the law; today the picture looks much different:

acasurge

BOTTOM LINE: If there’s any indication that the Affordable Care Act is in high demand, this is it. The law is working, it’s here to stay, and it’s delivering on its promise to provide quality, affordable health coverage that will be there when consumers need it most. Conservatives will continue their repeal-at-all-costs agenda, but the success of these past six months will make it harder because people do not want to go back to the way it was.

Reminder: You still have until midnight tonight to sign-up for health coverage at HealthCare.gov.

The Senate stands adjourned under the provisions of S.Res.407, as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Senator Jeremiah Denton of Alabama until 10:00am on Tuesday, April 1, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business for one hour with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Unemployment Insurance Extension bill.

The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

During Monday’s session, cloture was filed on the Reed-Heller substitute amendment #2874 and on H.R.3979. Under Rule 22, the cloture vote on the substitute amendment (UI) will occur on Wednesday. Senators will be notified when the cloture vote is scheduled. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate time prior to a vote on adoption of the substitute amendment. Upon disposition of the substitute, the Senate would then proceed to a cloture vote on the underlying bill. If cloture is invoked on the underlying bill, there would be up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate on prior to passage of the bill, as amended, if amended.

Yesterday, Senator Reid filed cloture on the substitute amendment #2874 (Unemployment Insurance extension) and H.R.3970. The filing deadline for first degree amendments is 2:30pm today.

We’ve added the Carlin nomination (Assistant AG) to the series of votes this afternoon. As a result, there will be up to 3 roll call votes (only expect 2 roll calls) beginning at 2:30pm, if all time is used. At 2:15pm, there will be up to 15 minutes for debate equally divided prior to a series of votes on confirmation of the nominations listed below. The second vote would be 10 minutes in duration. We expect to confirm the Lu nomination by voice vote. There are 2 minutes for debate equally divided between the votes. 2:30pm votes (if all time is used):

Executive Calendar #532, Kevin Whitaker, of Virginia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Colombia
Executive Calendar #687 John P. Carlin, of New York, to be an Assistant Attorney General
Executive Calendar #683, Christopher P. Lu, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Labor (voice vote expected)

2:29pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #532, Kevin Whitaker, of Virginia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Colombia; Confirmed: 99-0 2:57pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #687 John P. Carlin, of New York, to be an Assistant Attorney General; Confirmed: 99-1 Executive Calendar

#683, Christopher P. Lu, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Labor, was confirmed by voice vote.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #532, Kevin Whitaker, of Virginia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Colombia; Confirmed: 99-0

2) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #687 John P. Carlin, of New York, to be an Assistant Attorney General; Confirmed: 99-1

Legislative items

Discharged the Judiciary committee and adopted S.Res.371, honoring the legacy and accomplishments of Jan Karski on the centennial of his birth with Menendez amendments to the resolution and the title.

Adopted S.Res.408, supporting the designation of April as “Parkinson’s Awareness Month”.

Began the Rule 14 process of the following items in order to place the bills on the legislative calendar:

– S.2198, the Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014. (Feinstein)

– S.2199, the Paycheck Fairness Act. (Mikulski)

Additional Executive items

Confirmed Executive Calendar #683, Christopher P. Lu, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Labor by voice vote.

===================================================

Last Floor Action: 4:58:30 P.M. -H.R. 4005 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4005.

Last Floor Action:11:02:59 A.M. – 3/28

The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on April 1, 2014.

12:00:21 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:41 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Virginia Foxx to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:00:47 P.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
12:15:56 P.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on April 1, 2014 at 8:58 a.m.: That the Senate passed S. 2183 and H.R. 4302. Appointments: United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.
12:15:57 P.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on April 1, 2014 at 9:52 a.m.: That the Senate agreed to S. Res. 407.
12:17:00 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. today. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.
2:00:01 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 1.
2:00:06 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
2:01:33 P.M.		POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Speaker announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Garcia demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Speaker announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Garcia demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day.
2:02:00 P.M.		<action_description>PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Thompson of PA to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:03:07 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.
4:00:16 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 1.
4:00:16 P.M.		The House received a communication from the Honorable Mark Takano. Mr. Takano submitted his resignation from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The resignation was accepted without objection.
4:00:50 P.M.		The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a report with regards to Iceland’s commercial whaling activities. – referred to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Natural Resources and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 113-101).
4:04:41 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
4:07:46 P.M.	H.R. 4152	Mr. Royce moved that the House suspend the rules and concur to the Senate amendment.
4:07:54 P.M.	H.R. 4152	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 4152.
4:20:10 P.M.	H.R. 4152	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
4:20:24 P.M.	S. 2183	Mr. Royce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 2183 — “Entitled “United States International Programming to Ukraine and Neighboring Regions”.”
4:20:39 P.M.	S. 2183	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:20:42 P.M.	S. 2183	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2183.
4:38:39 P.M.	S. 2183	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
4:38:55 P.M.	H.R. 2413	Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2413 — “To prioritize and redirect NOAA resources to a focused program of investment on near-term, affordable, and attainable advances in observational, computing, and modeling capabilities to deliver substantial improvement in weather forecasting and prediction of high impact weather events, such as tornadoes and hurricanes, and for other purposes.”
4:39:37 P.M.	H.R. 2413	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:39:38 P.M.	H.R. 2413	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2413.
4:57:27 P.M.	H.R. 2413	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
4:57:32 P.M.	H.R. 2413	The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
4:58:13 P.M.	H.R. 4005	Mr. Hunter moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 4005 — “To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2015 and 2016, and for other purposes.”
4:58:29 P.M.	H.R. 4005	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:58:30 P.M.	H.R. 4005	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4005.

5:42:42 P.M.	H.R. 4005	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
5:43:11 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 92	Mr. Barletta moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution. H. Con. Res. 92 — “Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition.”
5:43:44 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 92	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:43:47 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 92	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 92.
5:48:53 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 92	On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
5:49:00 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 88	Mr. Barletta moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution. H. Con. Res. 88 — “Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.”
5:49:15 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 88	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:49:17 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 88	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 88.
5:57:01 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 88	On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
5:57:54 P.M.	S. 1557	Mr. Pitts moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 1557 — “To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize support for graduate medical education programs in children’s hospitals.”
5:57:56 P.M.	S. 1557	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:57:59 P.M.	S. 1557	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1557.
6:03:42 P.M.	S. 1557	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
6:03:55 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. today.
6:30:09 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 1.
6:30:23 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier, and on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal, all of which further proceedings had been postponed.
6:31:00 P.M.	H.R. 4152	Considered as unfinished business.
6:56:23 P.M.	H.R. 4152	On motion that the House suspend the rules and Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): (Roll no. 149).
6:56:30 P.M.	S. 2183	Considered as unfinished business. S. 2183 — “Entitled “United States International Programming to Ukraine and Neighboring Regions”.”
7:04:47 P.M.	S. 2183	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): (Roll no. 150).
7:13:38 P.M.		On approving the Journal Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (Roll no. 151).
7:13:53 P.M.		Mr. Burgess filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 530.
7:14:29 P.M.	H. Res. 531	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 531 — “The title of this measure is not available.”
7:14:49 P.M.	H. Res. 531	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
7:14:58 P.M.	H. Res. 531	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:15:50 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.


7:34:35 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

8:46:55 P.M.		Mr. Garamendi moved that the House do now adjourn.
8:46:56 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
8:46:58 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on April 2, 2014.