National African-American Leaders/Congressional Black Caucus Members Dispel Myths and Urge Americans to Support Health Care Reform
- By Staff Writer
- Published 09/14/2009
- Political
- Unrated
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chair, Congressional Black Caucus WASHINGTON, DC— Prior to President Obama’s speech to the joint session of Congress on healthcare reform, national African-American leaders and members of the Congressional Black Caucus joined together at the U.S. Capitol to call for action in support of the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act and to dispel myths that are plaguing the minds of many Americans. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, chair, Congressional Black Caucus and Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League and chair of the Black Leadership Forum led the delegation of leaders stating the need to clarify what’s at stake and why all Americans need to support healthcare reform. “As the health care debate continues to heat up, African-American leaders need to be more vocal about why health care reform is needed in this country,” stated Morial.
“With 46 million people living without health care insurance and about half of those being people of color, and with rising health care costs that are crushing families and small businesses, an overhaul is imminent.”
Three Good Reasons to
Support Health care Reform:
• Access—make healthcare accessible to ALL Americans.
•Affordability—reduce costs to make health care affordable with a focus on prevention and wellness.
•Competition—ensure stable costs and quality care through a robust public option.
Three Big Lies (Myths) about Health care Reform:
•People with insurance don’t
benefit.
•It creates death panels for the
elderly.
•It represents Socialism.
“As the Members of Congress who represent millions of disproportionately under- and uninsured Americans whose health and wellness have suffered because of the numerous gaps in our nation’s health care system, we are deeply concerned about the current discussions surrounding health care reform,” said Congresswoman Lee (D-CA). “We want President Obama to know that the members of the Congressional Black Caucus and our coalition partners stand at the ready in the fight to reform America’s broken health care system.”