It has been a long haul in the battle to get health care reform over the finish line.  But victory is now in sight.  With the unveiling of the House health care bill, we have legislation that accomplishes President Obama’s key goals for reform.  The legislation in the House would make health care affordable and accessible for all Americans and would hold insurance companies accountable by forcing them to compete with a public plan option.

Opponents of reform have thrown up numerous hurdles.  They said reform would be too costly, but the House bill would pay for itself and reduces the deficit.  They said people would lose their coverage, but the House bill provides greater choice and competition and allows you to keep your current plan. They said seniors would be left out in the cold but the bill actually strengthens Medicare and eliminates waste and fraud.

In addition, the House bill doesn’t ask working families to pay more for what they already have in the form of increased taxes.  [STATE] families have made their voices heard by writing and calling Congress.  With light at the end of the tunnel it’s time for Congress to stand behind working families and support real reform that fixes our broken system and the House health care bill is the way to do it.

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SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE ON HOUSE HEALTH CARE BILL

For Immediate Release                                                           Contact: (Name) (Number)

Statement of [STATE] AFL-CIO on House Health Care Bill

November X, 2009

(City, STATE) -  This past week House speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled health care legislation that is balanced and fair.  This bill achieves important goals set by President Obama and makes health care more affordable and more accessible while holding insurance companies accountable.  This legislation will finally ensure that all Americans have health care that will be there no matter what.  In the next week the House of Representatives will begin debate on this legislation in an effort to get reform legislation on the President’s desk by the end of this year.

Recent polls show that support for health care reform that includes a public option is high.  Working Americans also overwhelmingly agree that we need reform now.  [STATE] families like many others around the country have felt the devastating impact of rising health care costs.  These costs have forced many families into bankruptcy.  On top of costs, insurance company denials have left those with pre-existing conditions or who lose their jobs without reliable coverage.  We now have a chance to change that by passing the House’s bill, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

Working families call on [STATE] representatives to support real reform and to put their vote behind a solution to our nation’s health care woes.  We need a public insurance plan option.  We need employers to pay their fair share by providing health insurance or paying into a common fund.  And we need to ensure that we are not financing health care on the backs of middle class families.  The legislation introduced in the House successfully accomplishes those goals and we encourage [STATE] representatives to stand with working families and pass the House health care bill.

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Sample Letter to Senators for Allied Organizations: Please fill in the designated information and put on your own letterhead.

Dear Senator ____________,

I am the [TITLE] of the [ORGANIZATION] in [CITY, STATE].  My organization represents [CONSTITUENCY OF ORGANIZATION].  I am writing to urge you to support real health care reform that includes a strong public health insurance option, doesn’t hurt middle class families and emphasizes shared responsibility.

Every day, my organization works to improve opportunities for working people.  I see the challenges people face from rising health care costs and a lack of adequate health insurance—from families that incur budget-breaking debt because of limited health care coverage to the uninsured who go without needed medication.  These health care challenges hinder our ability to make lasting improvements in other areas of their lives.

As a representative of an organization that works with working class families in [STATE], I believe it is absolutely critical to pass effective health care reform legislation. But the people of [STATE] don’t need just general reform of the present system; we need reform that makes health care more affordable and accessible for everyone. That’s why I urge you to support health care reform legislation that includes a strong public health insurance option to help bring down costs and increase options; guarantees employers will pay their fair share by providing coverage or paying into the system; and that isn’t funded on the backs of working families through taxes on benefits.

I urge you to support real health care reform so families no longer have to choose between paying their mortgage and paying their medical bills.  I look forward to working with you on this, and many more issues that affect my community and the residents of [STATE].

Sincerely,

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Sample Letter to Senators for Faith Leaders: Please fill in the designated information and put on your own letterhead.

Dear Sen. ____________,

I am the [TITLE] of the [CONGEGRATION/DENOMINATION] in [CITY, STATE].  I am writing to urge you to support real health care reform that includes a strong public health insurance option, doesn’t hurt middle class families and emphasizes shared responsibility.

As a member of the [STATE] faith community, I believe I have a moral obligation to write to you about an issue so critical to my congregation, our community and the country at large. Every day I see the challenges people face over health care, from families that incur budget-breaking debt because of limited health care coverage to the uninsured struggling to pay for needed medication or simply going without.

The people of [STATE] don’t need just general reform of the present system; we need reform that makes health care more affordable and accessible for everyone. That’s why I urge you to support health care reform legislation that includes a strong public health insurance option to help bring down costs and increase options; guarantees employers will pay their fair share by providing coverage or paying into the system; and that isn’t funded on the backs of working families through taxes on benefits.

More and more, we are becoming a nation divided—those who have jobs, those who don’t; those who have homes, those who don’t; those who have health care, those who don’t.  The members of my congregation are engaged daily in reaching out and helping people, but charitable work alone can not meet the needs of our community. 

I urge you to support real health care reform so families no longer have to choose between paying their mortgage and paying their medical bills.  I look forward to working with you on this, and many more issues that affect my community and the citizens of [STATE].

Sincerely,

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