Baucus, Grassley Announce Health Reform Summit for Senators, Representatives on June 16

Press Release

BAUCUS, GRASSLEY ANNOUNCE HEALTH REFORM SUMMIT FOR SENATORS,
REPRESENTATIVES ON JUNE 16

"Prepare for Launch: Health Reform Summit 2008" offers leaders the chance
to engage with experts, learn and discuss options for comprehensive reform in 2009

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley today unveiled plans for a bipartisan summit for Senators and
Representatives to discuss options for health care reform in 2009. "Prepare for Launch: Health Reform Summit 2008" will be held at the Library of Congress on June 16, 2008, as part of the Finance Committee's year-long series of hearings, roundtables, and events to prepare for congressional action on health reform.

"Our broken health care system is endangering families and sapping this country's ability to compete economically, and Americans want something done about it. But comprehensive health reform won't drop out of the clear blue sky - we have to do some legwork first," said Baucus. "All of us in Congress have a responsibility to learn all we can now, start talking through the sticky issues, and be ready to move when the time comes for real reform. ‘Prepare for Launch' will bring leaders together now to tackle America's health care crisis."

"Policy discussions and debates are fundamental to policy initiatives that achieve broad-based support. I'm glad to support an event that encourages a productive dialogue and gets people focused on ideas and possibilities. Without a doubt, health care matters to every American. This summit is a chance to study the opportunities that exist to improve access and quality in America's health care system, and to consider what's involved in making possible reforms," said U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley.

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