08/03/2007
CONTACT: Stephanie Cathcart, 202-314-2056
Bipartisan vote indicates strong support for a much-needed solution to small-business health-insurance struggles
Washington, D.C.--Last night, the U.S. Senate adopted a sense of the Senate amendment calling on Congress to enact legislation this year on health-insurance reform for small businesses and the self-employed.
The amendment, which was unanimously agreed to, was proposed by U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln and co-sponsored by Sens. Snowe, Baucus, Grassley, Kennedy, Enzi, Nelson (Neb.), Durbin, Crapo, Smith, Hatch, Carper, Isakson, Pryor, Dodd and Kerry, and encourages Congress to enact legislation that "improves access to affordable and meaningful health-insurance coverage, especially for Americans in the small group and individual health-insurance markets."
Dan Danner, executive vice president of the National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small-business advocacy group, issued the following statement in response:
"Today's bipartisan vote is an excellent indication of support to address the health-insurance needs of our nation's small businesses. We are grateful to see all of these Senators continue to work together to find common ground on health-care reform for the small group and individual health insurance markets.
"We are especially supportive of the affirmed commitment to enacting legislation this year that facilitates and includes pooling mechanisms across state lines and provides for tax incentives for the purchase of private insurance coverage. These are two very important pieces of a comprehensive health-insurance reform package that are needed to help our nation's small and independent businesses.
"We will continue to work with leaders on both sides of the aisle and encourage the full Congress to enact health-insurance reform this year."
