07/26/2005
CONTACT: Michelle Dimarob, (202) 554-9000
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Dan Danner, NFIB executive vice president, released the following statement in response to passage of the Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R. 525) by the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Today, the U.S. House of Representatives completed work on the first of several measures being considered to provide small business with a set of tools to address the skyrocketing cost of health care. For NFIB’s 600,000 members and the rest of the small-business community, the symbolic importance of today’s passage of the Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R. 525) cannot be understated. The broad and strong bipartisan support sends a message from Capitol Hill to Main Street that ‘a helping hand to better health is on the way.’
“The uninsured problem in America is largely a problem for small-business owners and their employees. Of the 27 million working uninsured, 63 percent are working in firms with fewer than 100 employees. Likewise, while only 41 percent of firms with one to nine employees offer health benefits; 99 percent of large firms provide health benefits. As America’s job creators, small business wants to provide a wide variety of affordable benefits, but when 65 percent of small businesses indicate high cost as the main reason why they do not offer health insurance, it is clear that something must be done so that those on Main Street have the same access to health care as those on Wall Street.
“Today’s vote is a step toward quality, affordable health care for small business. With eight successful votes for passage by the House and a president who stands ready to sign this legislation into law, only the U.S. Senate stands in the way of affordable health care for small business. It is time for the Senate to make real relief a reality for small business and pass the Small Business Health Fairness Act (S. 406).”
