Representative Garnet F. Coleman Urges White House and Congress to Pass Health Care Reform Legislation
- By Staff Writer
- Published 06/23/2009
- Political
- Unrated
AUSTIN- Garnet F. Coleman is taking on a central role in the debate over federal health care reform. The Progressive States Network, a national group co-chaired by Rep. Coleman, led a delegation of state leaders to the White House and Congress to deliver a letter urging comprehensive health care reform within the year. Signed by over 700 state legislators from 47 states, including 25 from Texas, it called for any federal reform bill to include strong affordability protections, shared responsibility for health care costs, and the choice of a public health insurance plan that is available to businesses, individuals, and families.
“For far too long, Americans have been priced out of insurance or turned away from care that is essential to their health,” said Coleman. “Texas families need legislation that reduces today’s astronomical health care costs and makes health insurance affordable to those who do not have it.”
The letter was hand delivered to the White House by state legislators at a meeting with Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Nancy-Ann DeParle, head of the White House Office on Health Reform. Earlier, the delegation delivered the letter to Congress at a Capitol Hill press conference hosted by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, third-ranking Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
“As state legislators, we have a lot of experience grappling with these issues and a lot of lessons to share. We’ve learned what works and doesn’t work, and we’re looking forward to sharing with our colleagues in the White House and Congress,” said Coleman. “It’s highly encouraging to see that our nation’s leaders are interested in incorporating those lessons so we can move forward together to craft a system where everyone is assured quality, affordable health care.”
“On behalf of the more than 700 legislators who signed this letter, I thank our nation’s leaders for their receptiveness and I offer our active collaboration moving forward.” added Coleman.
Texas legislators signers were: Reps. Allen (Houston), Alonzo (Dallas), Anchia (Dallas), Bolton (Austin), Cohen (Houston), Chair Coleman (Houston), Vice-Chair Dukes (Austin), Chair Dunnam (Waco), Farrar (Houston), Chair Gallego (Alpine), Hernandez (Houston), Vice-Chair Herrero (Robstown), Hodge (Dallas), Kent (Dallas), Tracy King (Batesville), Vice-Chair Lucio III (Brownsville), Maldonado (Round Rock), Marquez (El Paso), Vice-Chair Naishtat (Austin), Olivo (Rosenberg), Ortiz Jr. (Corpus Christi), Rodriguez (Austin), Veasey (Fort Worth), Walle (Houston), and Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (San Antonio).
“For far too long, Americans have been priced out of insurance or turned away from care that is essential to their health,” said Coleman. “Texas families need legislation that reduces today’s astronomical health care costs and makes health insurance affordable to those who do not have it.”
The letter was hand delivered to the White House by state legislators at a meeting with Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Nancy-Ann DeParle, head of the White House Office on Health Reform. Earlier, the delegation delivered the letter to Congress at a Capitol Hill press conference hosted by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, third-ranking Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
“As state legislators, we have a lot of experience grappling with these issues and a lot of lessons to share. We’ve learned what works and doesn’t work, and we’re looking forward to sharing with our colleagues in the White House and Congress,” said Coleman. “It’s highly encouraging to see that our nation’s leaders are interested in incorporating those lessons so we can move forward together to craft a system where everyone is assured quality, affordable health care.”
“On behalf of the more than 700 legislators who signed this letter, I thank our nation’s leaders for their receptiveness and I offer our active collaboration moving forward.” added Coleman.
Texas legislators signers were: Reps. Allen (Houston), Alonzo (Dallas), Anchia (Dallas), Bolton (Austin), Cohen (Houston), Chair Coleman (Houston), Vice-Chair Dukes (Austin), Chair Dunnam (Waco), Farrar (Houston), Chair Gallego (Alpine), Hernandez (Houston), Vice-Chair Herrero (Robstown), Hodge (Dallas), Kent (Dallas), Tracy King (Batesville), Vice-Chair Lucio III (Brownsville), Maldonado (Round Rock), Marquez (El Paso), Vice-Chair Naishtat (Austin), Olivo (Rosenberg), Ortiz Jr. (Corpus Christi), Rodriguez (Austin), Veasey (Fort Worth), Walle (Houston), and Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (San Antonio).