Ben Nelson, U.S. Senator for Nebraska: Health Care Reform 2009

Health Care Reform

Congress and the administration are currently debating major health care reform. Below is information on Senator Nelson's views and other relevant information about this debate.

Current Health Care Reform Bill

The final changes to the Senate health care bill, called the "manager's amendment," and announced December 19, 2009 are available by clicking here.

The Senate health care reform bill introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and released on November 18, 2009 is available by clicking here.

Nelson-Hatch Amendment

On Monday, December 7, 2009, Senator Nelson, Senator Orrin Hatch, Senator Robert Casey and others introduced the bipartisan Nelson-Hatch Amendment to extend the existing ban on federal funding for abortion to the Senate health care bill. The full amendment is available by clicking here.

To view Senator Nelson's speech introducing the amendment, click here.

Public Meetings on Health Care Reform

Over August and September, Senator Nelson held a series of public meetings across the state to speak with Nebraskans about health care reform.

Senator Nelson held town halls on Sunday, September 27 in McCook and Scottsbluff, on Monday, August 24 in North Platte and Kearney, on Tuesday, August 25 in Norfolk and South Sioux City, on Wednesday, August 19 in Omaha and on Thursday, August 20 in Lincoln.

If you were unable to attend the meetings, don't hesitate to contact Senator Nelson with your questions, comments, and stories about health care by clicking here.

Video of Meetings

Time Warner Cable has taped the Lincoln meeting and offers it to subscribers on Nebraska On Demand, channel 101.

Fact vs. Fiction

The White House has created a useful website to address the most common misperceptions about health care reform.

Senator Nelson on Health Care Reform

In His Own Words:

Senator Nelson's Principles for Health Care Reform
Press Release: Nelson Reiterates Call for Relieving Unfunded Mandate for All States in Health Reform, January 15, 2010
Press Release: Nelson: Health Reform Will Treat All States Equally on Medicaid Expansion, January 7, 2010
Weekly Column: Misunderstandings in Health Care Bill Confuse the Public, December 29, 2009
Op-Ed: Medicaid Provision Wasn't Special Deal for Nebraska, December 27, 2009
Press Conference: Nelson Statement on Health Care Deal, December 19, 2009
Speech: Nelson Speaks on Senate Floor About Nelson-Hatch Amendment, December 7, 2009
Op-ed by Senator Nelson: Full and Open Debate Vital on Health Reform Proposals, Omaha World Herald, November 25, 2009
Press Release: Senator Nelson Statement on Health Care Motion to Proceed, November 18, 2009
Weekly Column: Thinking Outside the Beltway, October 5, 2009
Weekly Column: Health Care Reform: the "What's In It For Me" Factor, September 14, 2009
Op-ed by Senator Nelson: Health Care Needs Bipartisan Support, Lincoln Journal-Star, September 2, 2009
Weekly Column: Health Care Reform Puts Nebraskans on the Edge of Their Seats, August 31, 2009
Weekly Column: Guiding Principles for Health Care Reform, August 17, 2009
Press Release: Nelson Statement Concerning President's Press Conference on Health Care, July 23, 2009
Weekly Column: Nebraskans Care About Health Reform, June 8, 2009
Video: Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson Delivers Floor Speech Outlining Principles on Health Care Reform, May 13, 2009
Op-ed by Senator Nelson: Health Care Fix is Within Reach, Omaha World Herald, May 3, 2009

Nelson in the News:

Lincoln Journal-Star: Nelson Wants State Decisions on Public Option, November 24, 2009
Lincoln Journal-Star: Nelson Might Not Back Next Step for Health Bill, November 22, 2009
The Hill: Senator Nelson Will Vote For Motion to Push Health Bill Forward in the Senate, November 20, 2009
McCook Daily Gazette: Health Care Reform Deals with Larger Issues, September 28, 2009
The Hill: Nelson: Still 'First Quarter' of Health Care Debate, September 28, 2009
Omaha World Herald: Nelson: Still Time for Bipartisanship, September 18, 2009
WOWT: Nelson on Health Care, September 13, 2009
The Hill: Nelson: Bipartisan Health Bill Would Be More 'Mainstream', September 11, 2009
CNN: Senator Signals Possible Health Care Compromise, September 6, 2009
Lincoln Journal-Star: Nelson Welcomes Role as Swing Vote, September 3, 2009
USA Today: Centrist Democrat on Health Care Bill: Smaller is Better, September 2, 2009
Sioux City Journal: U.S. Sen. Nelson: Health Reform Has Merits, August 26, 2009
Lincoln Journal Star: Huge Crowd Quizzes Nelson on Health Care, August 19, 2009
Associated Press: Centrists May Hold Key to Health Care Reform, August 19, 2009
Lincoln Journal Star: Nelson Wants Bipartisan Health Plan, August 3, 2009
KIOS-FM: Senator Nelson Talks Health Care, July 29, 2009
Lincoln Journal Star: Pull for Trigger in Health Reform, July 24, 2009
Omaha World Herald: Nelson: Obama Faces 'Tough Sale', July 21, 2009
Reuters: Bipartisan Senate Group Asks for More Time on Health Care, July 20, 2009
Grand Island Independent: Nelson Will Be a Postive Factor in Health Care Reform, July 20, 2009
Bloomberg: Obama Pushes Senate as Health-Care Focus Turns to Finance Panel, July 20, 2009
Omaha World Herald: Nelson, Obama Talk Health Care, July 16, 2009

Tell Senator Nelson What You Think

Contact Senator Nelson with your questions, comments, and stories about health care reform by clicking here.

Updated: January 2010