WASHINGTON – The nation’s largest consumer and patient organizations – including American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Consumers Union, Families USA, National Urban League and Community Catalyst – and PICO National Network are jointly pressing to make coverage more affordable in health care reform.  Activities include a joint statement, a lobby day and Capitol Hill Rally for Affordability at the Upper Senate Park on Wednesday, September 16 at noon.

Sponsors call for a series of clear Affordability protections for families as a crucial component of any successful health reform legislation.  The rally will put a human face on the issue of affordability by including testimony from families struggling to afford health insurance, clergy and religious leaders, and consumer groups from 19 states.

This week’s activities come on the heels of an active month during which faith and consumer groups demonstrated widespread support for making quality health insurance affordable for all families — 300,000 people listened to the August 19th health care web-cast and call-in with faith leaders and President Obama; tens of thousands of people attended events and town hall meetings to build support for affordable health reform; and tens of thousands more are expected to participate in a massive Congressional call-in Day on September 15.


WHO: Rev. Cory Sparks (Louisiana), PICO National Network; Tony Garr, Tennessee Health Care Campaign; Dan Smith, American Cancer Society; Sherita Pierce Milton, a mother of an uninsured daughter suffering from Crohn’s disease; Marc Morial, President & Chief Executive Officer, National Urban League

 

WHAT: Joint statement, Lobby Day and Capitol Hill Rally for Affordability

WHEN: September 16, 2009, 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: Upper Senate Park, corner of New Jersey Ave & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, D.C.

VISUALS: Rally participants holding “Affordable Health Care is a Family Value” signs; U.S. Capitol building in background; Members of Congress speaking

 
Organizations sponsoring the Statement, Lobby Day and Rally include National Urban League, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Community Catalyst, Consumers Union, Families USA, and PICO National Network.