Post-Election Is Prime Time for Health Care Reform Goals
New members of Congress take their places in Washington, D.C. this month. With the election behind them, legislators face the difficult task of living up to campaign promises. While the economy is a top priority, health care reform is sorely needed and is critical to rebuilding our economy, especially in rural America. Members of Congress are already putting their ideas into legislation as they prepare to debate after President-elect Obama takes office.
Newly elected “freshmen” who have not previously been in Congress are a good group to target with messages about what rural com¬munities need from health care reform. They often lack political and financial ties to insurance and pharmaceutical companies and, eager to prove themselves, are more open to taking on new and innovative ideas from their constituents.
Returning members of Congress especially important to health care reform include Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, Montana Senator Max Baucus, and Iowa Senators Tom Harkin and Charles Grassley.
Sen. Kennedy chairs a committee with direct oversight on health care, and has established work groups on insurance, quality of care, and prevention and public health within his committee. The latter work group will be led by Sen. Harkin.
Sen. Baucus chairs the committee that con¬trols Medicare and Medicaid. He has posted a pa¬per on his website with ideas he hopes to pursue, including expanding health insurance coverage, increasing efficiency, and ensuring quality and value. Sen. Grassley is a top Republican on the same committee.
The Center has two primary health care goals. First, we want to engage rural people in this debate and ensure that rural health care needs are addressed in reform legislation. Second, by organizing rural people to contact their legislators about health care reform needs, we hope to develop these legislators into champions for health care reform that works for everyone including rural communities, small businesses owners, and family farmers and ranchers.
In addition to organizing meetings in Midwestern states, we will keep you informed on the progress of the health care debate and let you know when there are critical messages to deliver to your legislators. To make sure you receive these alerts, please sign our health care petition here.
Contact: Steph Larsen, 402.687.2103 x 1014 or StephL@cfra.org for more information.
Newly elected “freshmen” who have not previously been in Congress are a good group to target with messages about what rural com¬munities need from health care reform. They often lack political and financial ties to insurance and pharmaceutical companies and, eager to prove themselves, are more open to taking on new and innovative ideas from their constituents.
Returning members of Congress especially important to health care reform include Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, Montana Senator Max Baucus, and Iowa Senators Tom Harkin and Charles Grassley.
Sen. Kennedy chairs a committee with direct oversight on health care, and has established work groups on insurance, quality of care, and prevention and public health within his committee. The latter work group will be led by Sen. Harkin.
Sen. Baucus chairs the committee that con¬trols Medicare and Medicaid. He has posted a pa¬per on his website with ideas he hopes to pursue, including expanding health insurance coverage, increasing efficiency, and ensuring quality and value. Sen. Grassley is a top Republican on the same committee.
The Center has two primary health care goals. First, we want to engage rural people in this debate and ensure that rural health care needs are addressed in reform legislation. Second, by organizing rural people to contact their legislators about health care reform needs, we hope to develop these legislators into champions for health care reform that works for everyone including rural communities, small businesses owners, and family farmers and ranchers.
In addition to organizing meetings in Midwestern states, we will keep you informed on the progress of the health care debate and let you know when there are critical messages to deliver to your legislators. To make sure you receive these alerts, please sign our health care petition here.
Contact: Steph Larsen, 402.687.2103 x 1014 or StephL@cfra.org for more information.
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