WASHINGTON, DC - SEIU Healthcare Chair Dennis Rivera issued the following statement today regarding the 2008 Colorado Health Care Summit:

"The more than 2 million working families of SEIU commend Former Senator Tom Daschle and the Obama healthcare transition team for their commitment to fixing health care--and we look forward to doing our part to promote this vital effort across the country.

"Senator Daschle's announcement today confirming the commitment of the new administration to address the healthcare crisis in America is great news for patients, caregivers, and employers alike. Senator Daschle has long been a champion for working families, and his announcement today is a tribute to his proven record of standing up for improvements to the healthcare system.

"More broadly, the recognition by Senator Daschle and the Obama team that rising healthcare costs are putting pressure on families and on businesses offers hope the mounting crisis will be addressed early in the next administration to help get our economy back on track. Clearly, any solution must expand coverage, reduce costs, and improve quality--the very priorities spelled out by Senator Daschle in Denver today.

"Today, SEIU's working families applaud Senator Daschle for his ongoing innovation, his steadfast commitment to fix the healthcare system, and his bold proposals for engaging Americans in the solutions. The fact that the Obama team is proposing some of the same tools that worked so well during the presidential election to ensure the voices of ordinary American families are part of the debate--including soliciting ideas by Internet and at house parties--demonstrates their commitment to addressing the problems on Main Street in a real way. SEIU healthcare workers plan to attend these house parties so we can share what we hear every day: working Americans need quality, affordable coverage they can count on.

"It is both fitting and telling that Senator Daschle's announcement should come from an event in Colorado, where Senator Ken Salazar has also shown great leadership in the movement to reform the healthcare system. With the Partnership for a Healthy Colorado citing each Colorado family will spend more than $934 to care for the uninsured by the end of 2008 and Families USA showing premiums for the average family have risen 82 percent in the last six years alone, Colorado exemplifies the severity of the situation nationwide. Senator Salazar has consistently shown he recognizes Coloradoans--and Americans overall--can't wait any longer to hear solutions to the healthcare crisis.

"SEIU members--more than one million of whom went to work today in hospitals, nursing homes, and as home care providers--are committed to work together with Senators Daschle, Salazar and other elected and business leaders to rebuild the healthcare system and the economy so they work for working people again."