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 What Do We Want? Health Care! When Do We Want It? Now!For Immediate Release: June 25, 2009 Contact: Kaley Lentini Washington, DC – After a ten-hour trip, over 100 New Hampshire residents arrived in Washington, D.C. at 7:30 am this morning to join thousands of others gathering at the nation’s capitol to fight for comprehensive health care reform. The trip is one of many trips Americans are taking to D.C. for week-long health care events, including last night’s town hall meeting about health care reform, “Prescription for America,” with President Obama. The Granite State delegation, sponsored by the New Hampshire Health Care for America Now Coalition, includes residents from all over the state who took time out of their busy lives to make the 29-hour journey to D.C. and back. “Health care reform is one of the most important conversations happening in our country right now,” said Eva Knepp of Dover. The 164 attendees at President Obama’s town hall meeting, held in the East Room of the White House, agree. When moderator Charles Gibson asked how many of the attendees agreed that the American health care system needs to change, every single person in the room raised his hand. The president himself commented that health care is the ticking bomb of America. “The status quo is untenable,” Obama said last night. To support his statement, Obama said, “The average family has seen their premiums double in the last 9 years, and costs for families are going up 3 times faster than wages…If we don’t do anything, that’s where the great danger is.” Today’s day of action in D.C. included multiple constituent meetings, a rally with 10,000 people from across the country, and over 300 Congressional delegation meetings. Knepp and other Granite Staters spent the morning holding a constituent meeting with Senator Jeanne Shaheen and meeting with representatives from Rep. Paul Hodes and Rep. Carol Shea Porter’s offices. “I got on the bus to D.C. because I want to be a part of the [health care reform] conversation and make sure that our voices are heard by our representatives in Congress,” Knepp said. “Providing portable, affordable health care is a critical challenge we face,” Rep. Hodes said in a statement that his aide read before answering constituent questions. “I look forward to discussing this important issue with Granite Staters as Congress continues to debate health care reform.” The affordability of health care was discussed in length with the president last night. Obama stated that Americans will see reductions in their out-of-pocket costs over time with health care reform. When asked if he is considering taxing health care benefits, the president said, “I continue to believe that’s not the best way to do it.” The New Hampshire constituents stressed the need for a public health insurance plan, a proposal the Obama administration supports, at the meeting with representatives. “We need to come up with something that is uniquely American,” Obama said. “If we are smart, we should be able to design a system in which people still have choices of doctors and choices of plans that makes sure the necessary treatment is provided but we don’t have a huge amount of waste in the system.” “Over 70 percent of people support comprehensive health care reform that includes a strong public health option, and it’s time we got it,” said Knepp. After the meeting, the delegation joined approximately 10,000 people at Upper Senate Park on Constitution Avenue for a huge health care reform rally. At the rally, Emmy-award winning actress Edie Falco spoke out on behalf of quality, affordable health care for all and Health Care for America Now (HCAN), the nation’s largest health care campaign. After Falco’s speech, individuals told stories of their struggles with the nation’s health care system. “It is just incredible to be here and feel the energy, the momentum, for health care reform,” said Teresa Moler of Nashua. “I was here for the inauguration in January, and you can feel some of that same excitement in the air. People know change is coming. We don’t want to wait another 10 or 15 years; we want health care reform this year.” Delegations of community leaders from over 40 states are participating in health care reform actions in the nation’s capitol this week. The people comprising these groups include small business owners, rural representatives, faith leaders, health care providers, and others. President Obama stressed the importance of actions like this week’s health care reform actions. Generally, change doesn’t come from Washington. It comes from the American people saying it’s time to move forward.” HCAN is a national grassroots campaign of more than 700 organizations representing 30 million people dedicated to winning quality, affordable health care we all can count on in 2009. Health Care for America Now and its principles for reform are supported by President Obama and more than 180 Members of Congress. Learn more about HCAN online at HealthCareforAmericaNow.org. ### Back to Granite State Progress  |