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For Immediate Release
Contact: Ali Jost, 202-730-7159,Mark McCullough, 202-730-7283,Kawana Lloyd, 202-730-7087

Frontline Caregivers, Leading Health Providers to Rally, Deliver Personal Stories to Congress in Support of Affordable, Quality Healthcare for Allq

Thousands of signed medical scrubs carry personal stories from the bedside & ER urging Congress to pass healthcare reform this year

WASHINGTON

Throughout the August recess, thousands of nurses, doctors and healthcare workers across America signed medical scrubs in support of healthcare reform.

Scrubs emblazoned with the message "Every Patient Matters" carry personal stories like this one from Jennifer Solovay, an ICU nurse from Northridge, California, to her member of Congress: "I know of patients playing 'doctor' meaning, they would literally cut their blood pressure pills in half to stretch the medications simply because they cannot afford it. It's the choice of putting food on the table or buying expensive medicine."

WHO: Nurses, doctors, healthcare workers and healthcare leaders from the Partnership for Quality Care (PQC). PQC healthcare providers and SEIU caregivers care for more than 60 million patients annually. Speakers include:

-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

-George Halvorson, Secretary, PQC, and Kaiser Permanente CEO

-Toni Luella Lewis, MD

-Dian Palmer, RN

-Dennis Rivera, Chair, PQC and Chair, SEIU Healthcare

WHAT: Great Visuals: Against the backdrop of the U.S. Capitol, healthcare workers, members of Congress, healthcare leaders will rally in front of hundreds of colorful surgical scrubs carrying handwritten messages.

WHERE: U.S. Capitol Building, 1st St NE & Constitution Ave NE- (Adjacent to Capitol Visitors Center; across from the U.S. Supreme Court.)

WHEN: Wednesday, September 23 at 11:30 a.m. ET

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES: Pre-event: nurses, doctors dressed in surgical scrubs hanging hundreds of signed scrubs to display. During event: caregivers in scrubs standing with Majority Leader Reid, members of Congress, healthcare leaders against backdrop of U.S. Capitol.

With 2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.