U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’s office said Saturday that she will vote in favor of health care legislation, which is expected to be decided Sunday.

“I have decided to vote for health insurance reform because it fundamentally is the right thing to do,” she said in a press release late Saturday.

BELOW:

FULL TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE

HOW BILL WILL AFFECT GIFFORDS’ DISTRICT

“My decision comes after a year of debate, listening to tens of thousands of Southern Arizonans and carefully examining the legislation. These reforms will make health care more affordable and accessible for the majority of my constituents ranging from children to seniors.”

Also on Saturday, President Obama exhorted House Democrats to stay true to their party’s legacy and make history by bringing health insurance to millions of families now left out. Leaders exuded confidence as they defused thorny problems in the countdown to a landmark vote.

Obama evoked Abraham Lincoln’s moral compass and extolled Democratic achievements such as Social Security and Medicare — once controversial, now an essential part of the social fabric — on a day marked by a frenetic hunt for votes inside the Capitol and angry tea party demonstrations at the door. Some protesters hurled racial insults at black members of Congress.

“Is this the single most important step that we have taken on health care since Medicare?” Obama asked rank-and-file Democrats far from the chanting crowds. “Absolutely. Is this the most important piece of domestic legislation, in terms of giving a break to hard working, middle-class families out there since Medicare? Absolutely.

“It is in your hands,” Obama said, bringing lawmakers to their feet. “It is time to pass health care reform for America and I am confident that you are going to do it tomorrow.”

BELOW IS THE TEXT OF REP. GIFFORDS PRESS RELEASE

I have decided to vote for health insurance reform because it fundamentally is the right thing to do.

My decision comes after a year of debate, listening to tens of thousands of Southern Arizonans and carefully examining the legislation. These reforms will make health care more affordable and accessible for the majority of my constituents ranging from children to seniors.

By ending abusive insurance company practices and offering immediate tax credits to small businesses and individuals who cannot afford to purchase coverage, we will be taking an historic step toward transforming our broken health insurance system.

The benefits of this legislation will be felt immediately. Children with a pre-existing condition cannot be denied coverage, small businesses will be provided a tax credit to purchase health insurance for employees, seniors will be given a rebate if they are impacted by the donut hole and children can stay on their parents’ insurance plan until they reach 26 years of age.

This bill also is good for the backbone of our economy – small businesses. Reforms will prevent them from paying bigger premiums if they have employees with higher health costs due to age or sickness.

A sliding scale will immediately be established to give tax credits to employers with fewer than 25 employees and average annual wages of less than $50,000 who offer health insurance coverage to their employees. And there will be an exemption from employer responsibility payments for employers with 50 or fewer employees.

As a member of the fiscally responsible Blue Dog coalition, I am very pleased that this legislation is fully paid for and will reduce our budget deficit by $138 billion over the next decade.

I first was elected to public office 10 years ago with a commitment that I would do everything in my power to ensure that all Americans would have access to affordable health care. That same year, the people of Arizona voted overwhelmingly for an initiative to expand health care coverage to the working poor of our state.

It is a tragic twist of fate that the United States Congress is moving to extend coverage to 95 percent of our citizens just three days after the Arizona Legislature and Governor Brewer agreed to strip more than 350,000 citizens – 45,000 of whom are children – of health insurance.

The men, women and families I represent want the system fixed – they want solutions not partisan bickering. I wholeheartedly agree.

As we approach this vote, I am acutely aware of the lobbying groups that do not support these reforms. What they cannot spin is who I am or the values that guide my decisions.

I am a native Arizonan, a former small business owner and a military spouse. I have consistently have had one of the most moderate voting records of any member of Congress. My constituents know that I would not support a radical government “takeover” of health care, the creation of “death panels,” the dismantling of private insurance, the public funding of abortions or sponsoring free health insurance for illegal immigrants.

The legislation now before us does not include any of these provisions. But the American people are being made to suffer through millions of dollars of corporate-sponsored distortions intended to scare the public and obstruct the progress of these reforms.

The legislation that will be voted on by Congress represents a strong first step to enacting meaningful health insurance reform. In the days and months following our vote, I will devote significant time and resources to ensuring that individuals, families and small businesses in my district get their questions answered and learn about the new opportunities now available to lower their costs and increase their access to quality, affordable health care.

This is an historic moment for our nation. I am proud to be a part of it.

ACCORDING TO GIFFORDS’ OFFICE, THIS IS HOW THE VOTE WILL AFFECT HER DISTRICT:

The Affordable Health Care for America Act will provide security for seniors, guarantee access to health insurance coverage for the uninsured and make health care affordable for the middle class — while responsibly reducing the federal deficit over the next decade and beyond.

Based on our analysis of data for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District from the U.S. Census, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Department of Health and Human Services, this bill will:

# Improve employer-based coverage for 447,000 residents.

# Provide tax credits and subsidies to help pay for coverage for up to 176,000

households.

# Improve Medicare for 135,000 beneficiaries, including closing the prescription

medication donut hole for 14,100 seniors.

# Guarantee that 10,300 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage.

# Allow 15,200 small businesses to obtain affordable health care coverage and

provide tax credits to help reduce health insurance costs for up to 13,400 small

businesses.

# Provide coverage for 40,500 uninsured residents.

# Allow 57,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents’ insurance plans.

# Protect up to 900 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.

# Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and health care providers by

$38 million.

Employer Sponsored Insurance: Some 447,000 district residents receive health care coverage from their employer. Under the legislation, individuals and families with employer-based coverage can keep the health insurance coverage they have now, and it will improve.

# No co-pays or deductibles for preventive care.

# No more rate increases or coverage denials for pre-existing conditions;

10,300 district residents have pre-existing medical conditions that prevents them

from buying insurance.

# Guaranteed oral, vision, and hearing benefits for children.

Currently Uninsured: Those without insurance will be able to purchase coverage at group rates through a health insurance exchange.

Affordability: Middle class individuals and families will receive affordability credits to ensure they can pay for the coverage they need.

# There are 176,000 households in the district that could qualify for affordability credits to purchase insurance.

# The bill caps annual out-of-pocket costs at $5,950 for individuals and $11,900 for families and eliminates lifetime limits on insurance coverage, ensuring that no citizen will have to face financial ruin because of high health care costs.

Strengthening Medicaid: Expands Medicaid coverage (AHCCCS in Arizona) and dramatically increases federal reimbursement to states for the costs of the program.

Improving Medicare: 135,000 Medicare beneficiaries in the district will see improvements to Medicare through:

# free preventive and wellness care;

# improved primary and coordinated care, improved nursing home quality; and

# strengthening of the Medicare Trust Fund, extending its solvency from 2017 to 2026

More than 14,000 district residents will see the Medicare donut hole reduced by $500 in 2010, cutting brand-name drug costs in the donut hole by 50%, and completely eliminating the donut hole by 2019.

More Employer Sponsored Coverage: Small businesses with up to 100 employees will be able to join the health insurance exchange, benefiting from group rates and a greater choice of insurers.

# There are 15,200 small businesses in the district that will be able to join the health insurance exchange.

# Businesses with 25 employees or less and average wages of less than $50,000 will qualify for tax credits of up to 35% of the costs of providing health insurance. There are up to 13,400 small businesses in the district that could qualify for credits.

# Beginning in 2014, the small business tax credits will cover 50% of premiums.

No deficit spending: The Affordable Health Care for America Act is fully paid-for and cuts the deficit.

# No tax increase for 99% of district residents.

# Half of the costs are paid by eliminating waste, fraud, abuse and excessive profits for private insurers in Medicare and Medicaid

# According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill will cut the deficit by over $138 billion over the next decade and by $1.2 trillion in the second ten years.

Timeline: Many aspects of the bill are implemented between now and 2013. Here are the major benefits and when they will be in effect:

2010

# Prohibits insurance companies from using pre-existing conditions to exclude children from coverage

# Provides a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the donut hole in 2010

# Offers tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums to small businesses that choose to offer coverage

# Provides free preventative care under Medicare

# Bans insurance companies from dropping people from coverage when they get sick

# Prevents insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on coverage

# Extends coverage for young people up to 26th birthday through parents’ insurance

# Prohibitions on post-retirement reductions of retiree benefits

# Expansions of public health workforce, preventive health services and community health centers

# Eliminates cost sharing for preventative services in Medicaid and Medicare

2011-2012

# Free, annual wellness visit and personalized prevention plan services for Medicare beneficiaries

# Provides a 10 percent Medicare bonus payment for primary care physicians and general surgeons

2014

# Full implementation of all health insurance reforms

# Insurers can no longer exclude coverage based on pre-existing conditions, gender, or other factors

# Start of insurance exchanges

# Start of affordability credits

# Provides a choice of coverage through a multi-State plan, available nationwide

# Implements second phase of small business tax credits (up to 50% of the cost of premiums)

2014 and Beyond

# Expands Health Insurance Exchange to increasingly larger employers

# Completely closes the donut hole for seniors by 2020