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Reimagining the health care marketplace for small businesses

Congresswoman Aumua Amata speaking at the hearing. [courtesy photo]
Aumua and Small Business Committee hold hearing
Source: Media release, office of Congresswoman Aumua Amata

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Aumua Amata, and the House Small Business Committee held a hearing on Reimagining the Health Care Marketplace for America’s Small Businesses this week. The purpose of the hearing was to examine hurdles facing small businesses in providing health care for their employees.

Whatever happens with health care reform in the near future, the territories cannot be left out of the discussion. It is reprehensible that when the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2009 the territories weren’t taken into account at all,” stated Amata. “When it comes to the health care choices our small businesses are able to provide to their employees, the issue becomes even more significant for my home district of American Samoa, where nearly all of  the businesses qualify as a small business.”

Specifically, the purpose of the hearing was to examine the current health insurance marketplace for small firms, review recent difficulties, and explore options to improve access, affordability, and consistency in America’s health insurance market. Improving American’s access to quality health insurance at an affordable cost will continue to be a dominant issue throughout the beginning part of the 115th Congress. This hearing provided members to hear first-hand from small business owners and policy experts about the current state of the nation’s health insurance marketplace and hear suggestions about how to improve the system. 

“I want to thank all of the witnesses at today’s hearing for their testimony, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the committee to ensure that our small businesses can grow and prosper. We can and must do better, and I have no doubt that real positive changes are on the horizon for the nation’s small businesses,” concluded the Congresswoman.