WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today's dramatic vote in the U.S. House of Representatives brings us one step closer to meaningful health care reform. We are very pleased that the Affordable Health Care for America Act makes health care more accessible and affordable for millions of Americans by enhancing coverage, promoting preventive care and improving delivery of care. But this milestone also serves as a sober reminder of the tremendous amount of work we still have before us if we are to ensure that legislation that ultimately emerges from Congress and is sent to the President retains the patient protections and provisions that are in line with the association's tenets of health care reform and are so important to individuals struggling with heart disease and stroke and their families.

Expanding coverage to an additional 36 million Americans, emphasizing clinical and population-based prevention and improving the quality and value of care are core principles and priorities of the American Heart Association. We also understand that many important issues in health care reform have not been settled. We hope and trust that the House vote will bring a renewed sense of optimism to Americans struggling with life-threatening illnesses that meaningful health care reform is within our grasp. We urge Congress and the Administration to continue to work tirelessly to make health care reform a reality this year.

Contact: Suzanne Ffolkes, 202-785-7900

SOURCE American Heart Association