AFSCME President McEntee: “This Is Real Progress… The Senate Must Act Swiftly”

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.afscme.org/press/27319.cfm

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, November 09, 2009
AFSCME President McEntee: “This Is Real Progress… The Senate Must Act Swiftly”

Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee regarding the passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

Washington, DC — “Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House of Representatives have made history by passing the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Saturday’s vote is real progress in the fight for health care reform. The House acted to protect seniors overwhelmed by the cost of prescription drugs and millions of American families unable to afford basic care because of skyrocketing costs. The Senate must act swiftly to pass this bill before the end of the year.

“AFSCME will not forget the members of Congress who chose to side with the middle class instead of the powerful insurance industry lobby. In partnership with Health Care for America Now, AFSCME will thank members of Congress for their courageous vote by running television ads in 20 House districts beginning Tuesday and holding hundreds of grassroots events. We are also partnering with Americans United for Change on thank ads that will run in 10 districts. We intend to do everything we can to guarantee Senate passage of legislation as soon as possible. Quality, affordable health care for all is now within reach. AFSCME will fight to make it happen.”

AFSCME’s 1.6 million members provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in hundreds of different occupations – from nurses to corrections officers, child care providers to sanitation workers – AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and prosperity and opportunity for all working families.

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