Workforce Chair Highlights Robust Job Growth,

Calls for Action to Expand Worker

Access to Quality Health Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) today highlighted the March employment report announced this morning by the U.S. Department of Labor.  The report showed that 211,000 jobs were created last month, with more than two million created in the past year and about five million added since August 2003.  The nation’s unemployment rate is 4.7 percent – lower than the average of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.

“Today’s job market continues to gain steam, and this consistent growth shows that Republican economic policies are working well,” noted McKeon.  “With more and more Americans heading to work in this fast-paced 21st Century economy, it’s critical that affordable, high-quality health care is readily available to them.  The House has taken a key step toward making this a reality for scores of currently uninsured working families, and I’m hopeful that the Senate will follow our lead.”

Last year, with the support of three dozen Democrats, the House approved the Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R. 525) – Education & the Workforce Committee legislation to help uninsured working families access quality health insurance.  The bill would allow small businesses to join together through association health plans (AHPs) to purchase insurance for their workers at a lower cost.  More than 60 percent of uninsured Americans either work for a small business or are dependent upon someone who does.

“Quality health benefits should be available to every working American, regardless of how big or small their employer,” concluded McKeon.  “With 45 million Americans living without health insurance, the time for action is long overdue.  As our job market grows, we must ensure that the ability for Americans to access quality health care keeps pace.”

Further information on Republican efforts to expand worker access to quality health care is available at: http://edworkforce.house.gov/issues/109th/workforce/healthcare/healthcare.htm.

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