01/12/2007
CONTACT: Stephanie Cathcart, (202) 314-2056 or (202) 431-3239
Small business encourages Sens. Kennedy, Enzi to set timeline to address growing problem
WASHINGTON, D.C.--The National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small-business group, today commended Sen. Ted Kennedy, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, for starting the 110th Congress with a focus on addressing the growing problem of access to affordable health care. Building on the strong foundation set by Sen. Mike Enzi, ranking member of the Senate HELP Committee, and his long-standing commitment to finding reasonable solutions to help those most affected, NFIB looks forward to working with the full committee to address the health care needs of small businesses.
"Small business is the country's leading job creator and represents 99 percent of employers, so a reasonable health care solution demands the attention of our federal lawmakers," said NFIB President and CEO Todd Stottlemyer. "It will take both sides of the aisle to broker an agreement and find common ground. We are confident that an open, honest debate on this critical issue can take place, and we encourage the leadership to set a timeline."
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, last year the number of uninsured increased to about 46.5 million. Between 1994 and 2005, the uninsured has risen by nearly 10 million, the majority of whom are small-business owners and employees. According to an October EBRI report, nearly 63 percent of all uninsured workers were either self-employed or working in private-sector firms with fewer than 100 employees in 2005.
Health care costs have been the No. 1 issue facing small-business owners since 1986. "For years, NFIB has pressed Congress to address the critical problem of the uninsured. Most recently, NFIB supported the efforts of then-Chairman Enzi that would have provided options for small businesses to address their rising health-care costs," said Stottlemyer. "We are pleased Sen. Kennedy is addressing these issues. The initiatives pursued in 2006 were tremendous steps forward, and we look forward to building on that momentum in a bipartisan fashion."
