SACRAMENTO, CA -- Representing 700,000 working men and women, the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) California applauded tonight's vote by the House of Representatives to pass the America's Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3962), calling the bill's passage an historic step towards creating a high-quality healthcare system that working families in California can afford.
The following is a statement from SEIU California President Bill A. Lloyd:
"By voting yes on the Affordable Health Choices Act, members of Congress did the right thing by our families, putting their needs before insurance company profits."
"California families have taken the brunt of the nation's economic downturn and state budget cuts have compounded families' economic concerns by stripping health care from 200,000 children and threatening to kick 800,000 more off Healthy Families coverage. We are thrilled that comprehensive health care reform is now within our reach and that 5.3 million of our state's uninsured individuals would be covered.
"We're counting on Senators Feinstein and Boxer to show the same type of leadership so we can pass meaningful healthcare reform this year because it's time that families have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare options."
The House bill provides quality health insurance that is affordable to 96 percent of the nation, with a strong public option that drives costs down and gives people the power to choose what is best for their family. It also requires individuals, businesses, and government to all share in the responsibility to expand affordable coverage. Employers will be expected to offer and contribute to meaningful coverage for their workers. As a result, 5.3 million Californians - a vast majority of the currently uninsured - will gain health care coverage over the next decade. Families will be protected from the insecurity and indignity of bankruptcy due to unaffordable healthcare costs--all without adding a dime to our nation's deficit.
Contacts: Mary Gutierrez, 213-276-3384
SEIU California is a coalition of over 700,000 janitors, social workers security officers, homecare workers, cafeteria workers, nurses and various classifications of city, county and state employees represented by SEIU local unions throughout California. They come together to build a better California by fighting to pass policies and elect candidates that fight for the issues working men and women care about such as affordable healthcare, good wages, a means to a good retirement, a healthy environment, education and stronger communities. They believe that by working together we can build a California that all working families can once again thrive in.
