Speaker Pelosi. Good morning. Here we are on Friday morning, one day closer to passing historic legislation to make health care more affordable, more acceptable to the American people and holding insurance companies accountable. Each day we move closer in terms of narrowing the decisions that need to be made.


We are still awaiting the report of the Congressional Budget Office for us to finally put something in print and on the Internet. But the CBO did come out with a report yesterday on the Senate bill. Mind you, the Senate bill passed Christmas Eve, but there was a CBO score going into the vote, but this addressed as amended. And what was positive about it is it showed over $100 billion in savings for the first 10 years of the bill and $1 trillion over the second 10 years. That is exactly what we — or better — what we hope to do with the reconciliation bill, to sustain those numbers. So the fact that it started at a good place for us is very positive.


Of course, we’re eagerly awaiting the final word from them. And when they do, then we will be able to send a bill to the Budget Committee, the Budget Committee will pass that out, we’ll go to the Internet with that and discuss the specifics of the legislation with our Members, and we’ll take whatever time is required for us to pass the legislation.


Again, I feel very exhilarated by a Caucus meeting that we had this morning in terms of the questions that Members have. We spent a good deal of time on the substance, but then some on the process as well. We stand ready to stay as long as it takes to pass the bill. I think Members are eager to pass the bill. And again, it won’t be long before we’ll be making a real difference in the lives of the American people.


So in terms of the House, again, as I said, the CBO, the substance in terms of what the agreement is between the House and the Senate and what the Senate tells us they are prepared to act upon, and then the action of the House.


I’m delighted that the President will be here for the passage of the bill. It’s going to be historic. And it would not be possible without his tremendous, tremendous leadership, his persistence, his concern for the American people, always, always guided by his statement that we will measure our success by the progress being made by America’s working families. This legislation not only makes history, but it will make progress for America’s working families.