HealthCareForAmericaNow

Four Newly-elected Members of Congress Explain They Plan to Give Health Care Reform Top Billing in 2009

Washington, DC - Today, four newly-elected Members of Congress joined together with Health Care For America Now (HCAN) - the largest national health care campaign - to say health care reform must be a top priority for the new Administration and Congress in 2009. 

"Health care was a huge issue in my race," said Member-elect Debbie Halvorson (IL-11). "Having served in the State Senate with President-elect Obama and knowing how important the issue of health care reform is to him, I think this will be the year we get it done. Fixing health care should be one of the first things we deal with, especially given the shape of our economy. Our current health care system is a killer for businesses and for families."

Member-elect Halvorson (IL-11), Member-elect Alan Grayson (FL-8), Member-elect  Eric Massa (NY-29), and Member-elect Mark Schauer (MI-7) all won in Congressional districts where Health Care For America Now did sophisticated, targeted health care voter education via paid media, direct mail, and phone.  According to Lake Research Partners, the campaign was extremely successful and "changed perceptions on health care had a significant impact on voter choice." In national post-election polling, voters cited health care as their number one personal economic concern.

All four newly-elected Members join President-elect Obama and more than 150 Members of the 111th Congress in having signed on to the HCAN principles for reform.

Read the HCAN principles here:  http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/statement_of_common_purpose

"When President-elect Obama signed on to HCAN's principles in the last month of the campaign and spent more than 86% of his October advertising budget addressing health care issues, he made a very clear statement that he understands how important fixing health care is to the American public," said Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager, Health Care for America Now. "On the local level, voters spoke loudly and clearly when they elected candidates who are committed to delivering quality, affordable health care for all. Fixing the system is urgent, and with our economy in a fragile state, the question is not, ‘how can we afford to fix health care?' but rather, ‘how can we afford not to?"

Members-elect spoke about both personal experiences with our broken health care system and how that system affects their constituents specifically.

"Our broken health care system has made it difficult for the domestic auto industry to compete and left more than a million Michigan residents without health insurance. This was a critical issue in my race, and last week voters sent a message that they want Washington to deliver real solutions," said Congressman-elect Mark Schauer (D- Mich).  "Even in these tough economic times, solving the health care crisis is more important than ever, and I look forward to working with my future colleagues to develop a uniquely American health care system that covers everyone."

"As a cancer survivor, I speak about health care with knowledge gleaned from the sharp end of a chemotherapy needle," said Rep.-elect Eric Massa (D-NY). "Organizations like Health Care for America Now are at the forefront of a grassroots movement that is saying, ‘yes, we do own the vote, and yes we can change this country.' The economy we're in will mandate the necessity of taking bold steps, and I am willing to be very aggressive in making health care a part of the solution."

Health Care for America Now will start the year with $25 million to spend on grassroots organizing, paid media, and Congressional outreach with the goal of supporting the Obama Administration in achieving our shared vision of quality, affordable health care for all. With more than 475 local, state, and national member organizations representing millions of people and 79 organizers in 41 states, HCAN is poised to mobilize the American public and keep up the drumbeat of urgency as we usher in the new Congress.

"We heard a lot about change in this election, and our central priority has to be meeting the basic human need of quality, affordable health care for all," added Congressman-elect Alan Grayson (D-FL).   "In Florida, health care is one of the main drivers of our economy, and this is the kind of issue government needs to deal with because the problem's gotten just too big.  We need health care coverage for everyone - no ifs, ands, or buts."


Health Care for America Now ("HCAN"), a section 501(c)(4) issue advocacy organization, is a broad coalition of nonprofit and political organizations that are working to promote quality, affordable health care for all Americans.  HCAN and each of its members conducts and funds only activities appropriate to its tax and election law status.