Washington, DC – National Stonewall Democrats commended the 219 Democratic Representatives who were on the right side of history last night when they took a significant step toward federal health care reform. The legislation increases access and affordability of health care insurance and will benefit all Americans, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and their families.
However, Stonewall Democrats continued to express disappointment that LGBT-specific provisions aimed at eliminating the health care disparities faced by our community were not included as part of the final bill despite the best effort of Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and others. In addition, the bill’s failure to create a robust public option and its trespass on women’s ability to make their own legal health care decisions were unsatisfactory.
Statement by Michael Mitchell, Executive Director, National Stonewall Democrats:
“Barack Obama and the Democratic Congress were put in office by the American people to address one of the most pressing issues of our time: a broken health care system which is neither adequate nor affordable for millions of Americans. The legislation that Democrats passed last night includes significant steps toward fixing the system, and toward ensuring access for those who have been uninsured for too long. The vote was a historic victory for our country, President Obama, and the Democratic Party, so long committed to reform.
“The road to passage was far from perfect, however, and disappointingly eliminated any public option and key provisions that would have helped address health care disparities faced by LGBT Americans. We see this bill as a significant accomplishment, and a starting point, on which other significant accomplishments on the road to adequate and affordable health care will be based.”
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Media Contact:
Jenna Lowenstein
Director of Communications
(202) 625-1382
jlowenstein@stonewalldemocrats.org
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