February 05, 2009
Erin Shields (Baucus) 224-4515
Anthony Coley (Kennedy) 224-2633
Baucus, Kennedy Affirm Commitment To Health Reform This Year
Finance, HELP Chairmen write letter to President, express eagerness to move forward
Washington, DC – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) andSenate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Edward M. Kennedy(D-Mass.) today confirmed their mutual intention to move forward on major health carereform in the 111th Congress. In a letter to President Barack Obama, Baucus and Kennedyreiterated their commitment to moving health reform legislation in the Senate this year,and expressed confidence that the President would soon nominate a strong candidate tolead the Department of Health and Human Services and to partner with Congress in theeffort. Baucus and Kennedy have been working together on plans to reform the health care system.
The text of the Senators’ letter follows here:
February 5, 2009
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Sir:
We were saddened to hear about Senator Daschle’s decision to withdraw from thenomination process. While we continue to believe that Senator Daschle is highly qualifiedto hold the position of Secretary of Health and Human Services, we respect his decision andwish him all the best in his future endeavors.
We are writing to affirm our continuing commitment to enacting comprehensive health carereform this year, and to express our confidence that you will swiftly choose an exceptionallyqualified and dedicated alternate nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services toassist in our efforts. As you have emphad, we must act now. The ranks of the uninsuredgrow larger each day. The cost of health care to families, businesses and government arecrippling and, although we spend more on health care than any other country, the quality ofcare provided by America’s health care system is often uneven compared to otherindustrialized nations.
We have a moral duty to ensure that every American can get quality health care. We mustact to contain the growth of health care costs to ensure our economic stability; to help American businesses deal with the health care challenge; and to make sure that we aregetting our money’s worth. Incremental efforts will no longer suffice and we cannot affordto wait any longer. With your continued leadership and commitment, we remain certainthat our goal of enacting comprehensive health care reform can be accomplished this year.
Respectfully yours,
Senator Max Baucus
Chairman, Senate Finance Committee
Senator Edward M. Kennedy
Chairman, Senate HELP Committee