I would like to thank Rep. Norm Dicks for his vote for HR 3962 (The Affordable Health Care for America Act). It took courage to stand up to the special interests and their big money campaign to derail the kind of reform that the American people have needed since the time of Theodore Roosevelt.

The House bill will cover 96 percent of Americans, expand access to quality coverage, establish a public option, allow young people to stay on their parents insurance until they’re 27 and outlaw discrimination on the basis of preexisting conditions.

It isn’t the single-payer bill that Reps. Norm Dicks and Jim McDermott signed on as co-sponsors to (HR 676), but I am very pleased at this step towards meaningful health care reform. I am optimistic and hopeful that Washington’s Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray will be able to finish the fight in the Senate, so President Obama can sign this important bill into law.