U.S. Chamber and Business Leaders Blitz Capitol Hill Calling for Responsible Health Reform

More Than 70 Business Leaders from 18 States Attend Fly-in

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As the Senate continues to debate a flawed health care bill, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce today led more than 70 business leaders, association executives, and local chambers of commerce members from 18 states to Capitol Hill to rally for responsible health reform. They delivered the message to Congress that reform needs to lower costs, not increase them – so it is time to Start Over!

"While the bill includes some favorable provisions, the Senate's efforts to protect American jobs and revive the economy fall flat," said Bruce Josten, executive vice president of Government Affairs for the U.S. Chamber. "Despite broad opposition from constituents, the Senate is debating legislation that will cost American families higher premiums and increased taxes. The goal of health reform is to bend the cost curve, while increasing access for more Americans. This bill doesn't."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has called for health reform that helps control skyrocketing health care costs, ends pre-existing condition exclusions, and reasonably reforms the insurance market place. Reform needs to create a real, vibrant market where the nation's more than 1,000 insurance companies will compete for business. The Chamber is opposed to: onerous mandates on employers that will cost jobs, half a trillion in new taxes, and a dangerous government-run health care plan.

"Congress needs to start over and draft a bill that doesn't hurt businesses and working families, but helps them," Josten continued. "We need bipartisan health reform that actually lowers costs, doesn't leave 24 million Americans uninsured, and doesn't cause 10 million people to lose their employer sponsored health benefits. Unfortunately, this legislation does not meet the goals that the president laid out at the beginning of this debate."

Today's lobbying blitz included more than 70 executives from Arizona, D.C., Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington who met with their Senators and Representatives to press for responsible health reform.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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