CWA: House Moves Forward to Repair Broken Health Care System

Contact: Candice Johnson, CWA Communications, cjohnson@cwa-union.org

Following is a statement by CWA President Larry Cohen on the House passage of health care reform:

“This legislation is an important opportunity to repair America's broken health care system.

We commend Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House leadership for their efforts that made this vote possible, and we commend members of the House of Representatives who stood up to insurance company interests and voted yes, for real reform.

H.R. 4872 is good start. It includes some penalties for employers who for too long have refused to pay their fair share and reassures workers that their families won't lose health care if they change jobs or are laid off. It stops the worst abuses of insurance companies, like denying care based on pre-existing conditions, setting lifetime limits for coverage and dropping coverage when people need it most.

After decades of working for quality health care for all, this bill moves us forward and provides a framework for future improvements.

We urge the Senate to act quickly to provide working and middle class families with the health care we all need. We can't afford to wait any longer.”