As I watched President Obama walk into the House chamber last night, I was once again filled with the hope and excitement I felt so often during the 2008 campaign -- recognizing that our country is on the brink of a new era in which we will rise to meet great challenges and ensure that the American dream is a reality shared by all.
I was especially heartened to hear the President say that health care reform can not wait for a later day and that providing affordable health care to all Americans is critical to ending the current economic crisis. But as President Obama gathers business leaders and doctors, and Democrats and Republicans, to begin working on a comprehensive solution to the health care crisis, I urge him to include the millions of voices asking for a single-payer plan.
My bill for single-payer health care reform, H.R. 676, had the most cosponsors of any health care bill during the 110th Congress, a number we're sure to exceed in the 111th. It has the support of labor unions, thousands of doctors and nurses, civil rights groups and religious organizations. Most importantly, it has the support of millions of Americans like you who are fed-up with the failures of for-profit health insurance. The single-payer movement needs a seat at every health care dicussion the President hosts.