WASHINGTON - October 13 - "Today, we stand on the brink of making history and giving every American the promise of health insurance reform that no longer leaves families at the mercy of an insurance industry driven by profits and greed," said Andy Stern, President of Service Employees International Union. "And, as we stand at this pivotal moment, we must ask: Will our Senators live up to the promise of reform they made to the American people or will they stand with an industry that has turned their backs on meaningful reform?

"With the Senate Finance Committee's historic vote on health insurance reform today, Congress has made clear that the status quo is not an option. It comes as no surprise however that Senator Olympia Snowe is the lone Republican to recognize what every family across this country knows, we can and we must do better.

"Now, Majority Leader Reid must bring a bill to the Senate floor that helps Americans like Roberta Howard. Roberta lost her health insurance after losing her job and was diagnosed with cancer just seven days later. Unfortunately, the Senate Finance bill does not go far enough to protect Roberta and other Americans from the crippling cost of healthcare."

The American people deserve a healthcare system that they can count on, one that guarantees:

• Every American can afford to pay for their coverage,

• Everyone shares responsibility, including business,

• Reform is paid for but not at the expense of working middle-class families, and

• People have the choice of a public option so insurance companies can no longer run roughshod over our families.

SEIU's 2.1 million nurses, doctors, security guards, and janitors will keep working to make sure any health insurance reform legislation is worthy of their support and truly makes healthcare affordable for all Americans.  

"At this point, the only people who can stop meaningful reform from being delivered are the sixty Democratic members of the United State Senate who were elected by the American people on a promise that they would stand for change, stand up to the special interests and stand proudly for an American healthcare system that works," said Stern.