(BOSTON, MA) – “The election of Scott Brown to fill the late Senator Kennedy’s seat will not stop our work for guaranteed quality, affordable health care for all.

“The fact remains that our health care system is broken. 47 million people remain uninsured. Insurance companies continue to deny coverage to people who have pre-existing conditions. Millions of Americans are losing their homes and livelihoods to crushing medical debt. Parents of special needs children cannot access necessary services. Small business owners struggle to provide health insurance to their employees. These problems will only get worse if we don’t address them now.

“The health reform proposals before Congress were modeled on the Massachusetts law, which enjoys overwhelming support and provides good, affordable coverage to 97% of the state’s residents. Senator-Elect Scott Brown voted in favor of the law, and has stated repeatedly that he continues to support it. We need to extend similar help to people in other states.

“Indeed, many challenges lie ahead. But we started this debate without enough votes to pass reform in either the U.S. House or Senate. Today, majorities in both chambers support passage. We have worked hard to build that support, and the finish line is within reach. It’s time to put the politics aside. Passing health care reform is a moral imperative, not a political one.

“Now is the time for Americans across the country to keep telling our Members of Congress that we need quality, affordable health care. Working together, we will make it happen.”

About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to quality affordable health care for all.  Since 1997, Community Catalyst has been working to build the consumer and community leadership required to transform the American health system.  With the belief that this transformation will happen when consumers are fully engaged and have an organized voice, Community Catalyst works in partnership with national, state and local consumer organizations, policymakers, and foundations, providing leadership and support to change the health care system so it serves everyone – especially vulnerable members of society.  For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org.

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