(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Montana’s U.S. Senator Max Baucus today said he is continuing to push for meaningful health care reform and that President Obama’s speech provided a good boost to his efforts. 

Baucus, who chairs the powerful Senate Finance Committee, has been a key player in health care reform and recently announced that his committee will take up legislation next week.

“I’ve been working on health care reform for more than two years and I can see the finish line- but there is a lot of work to do before we get there. I was pleased to hear the president recommit to getting meaningful health care reform passed this year. He understands that health care reform can’t wait any longer. He’s right. Costs are out of control and Americans are paying the price.  The next few days and weeks are critical to our effort to deliver real reform to reduce health care costs and ensure quality, affordable care."

Baucus, who has worked closely with his Senate colleagues from both parties to draft a bill, said that the legislation he is working on will:

• • Preserve choice so every American can keep their own doctor and choose their own health plan
• • Reduce health care costs and expand affordable options by providing tax credits to working families to pay for coverage
• • Deliver health care coverage to tens of millions of Americans
• • Dramatically lower prescription drug costs for seniors 
• • Tackle fraud, waste and abuse that plagues the health care system
• • Reform the insurance market with critical steps like protecting those with pre-existing conditions and limiting out-of-pocket costs
• • Provide tax credits to small businesses.

Negotiations on the Senate Finance Committee health care reform legislation will resume Thursday, September 10.