DeLauro: President and Congressional Republicans

DeLauro: President and Congressional Republicans

Squander Opportunities to Cover the Uninsured

- During national ‘Cover the Uninsured Week,' President discusses HSAs -

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today released the following statement on the national ‘Cover the Uninsured Week' and President Bush's remarks to the American Hospital Association regarding health care initiatives and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) yesterday. Over the last 5 years, the number of uninsured has risen by 6 million. Currently, 46 million Americans - 400,000 of which are in Connecticut - are uninsured.

"There is a health care crisis in this country, with health care costs - particularly those for prescription drugs - rising at a rate that most families cannot keep up with," said DeLauro. "National ‘Cover the Uninsured Week' presents an opportunity for the president and Congressional Republicans to jump start the discussion on how we can work to cover the 46 million uninsured Americans in this country.

"Yet on the day this national initiative began, the president squandered an opportunity to discuss real reform by talking about health savings accounts. These accounts will undermine traditional group insurance and discourage American families from seeking important preventative care. In short, they will do nothing to address the health care crisis. And despite several pieces of legislation pending before the U.S. House that would address the uninsured, none will be considered this week."

"It is time for real debate on the issue of health care coverage in America and for Congress to have a serious discussion on covering the uninsured," continued DeLauro. "By squandering these opportunities, the president and Congressional Republicans have made it clear that covering the uninsured is not a priority."

http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2006/May/health_care_opportunities_5_2_06.html