FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Contact: Brian Cook (202) 225-3202

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, released the following statement on the U.S. Census Bureau’s report today on poverty, income and insurance:

“Today’s announcement regarding the number of uninsured should not be confused with progress on increasing health insurance coverage. The data show public government programs, like Medicaid and S-CHIP, came to the rescue of those who lost employer-sponsored benefits as a result of our ailing economy. Two things are clear from today's announcement: private health insurance companies have failed to provide health coverage to millions of Americans and government health programs play a vital, necessary role in our system.”