WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 24, 2009 - In response to the Senate passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act this morning, Mark Pelavin, Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:
The Union for Reform Judaism applauds the Senate's approval of landmark health insurance reform legislation, as the time is long past due to repair our broken system that leaves over 47 million people uninsured and millions more underinsured each year. We commend our nation's senators who have been working tirelessly to bring us to this historic moment.
This crucial legislation would insure an additional 30 million Americans, make health insurance more affordable by increasing federal subsidies for low-income Americans and limiting out of pocket costs and also improve Medicaid and Medicare. While we are pleased to see a commitment to increased access to health insurance, we remain disappointed with key pieces of the legislation. The bill lacks a government-run public insurance option, which would control costs to further improve affordability and accessibility of care. We are also concerned about severe limitations to women's access to reproductive health services.
We must work efficiently to pass health reform swiftly but we cannot allow expediency to overshadow women's rights avowed in Roe v. Wade or eliminate the essential public option. Conferees must not sacrifice these elements for the sake of political expediency. As the bill moves to conference, we remain committed to our vision of comprehensive health insurance reform: coverage must be affordable, accessible and quality and reform must include a public insurance option, rest on a financially sustainable foundation and protect women's access to reproductive health care. Americans have a right to health care, and we look forward to working with members of Congress toward a healthy future for all Americans."
