Washington, DC - Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern released the following statement after President Obama's comments tonight from the White House on healthcare reform:

"Tonight, President Obama showed why workers across America put their faith in him last November - his commitment to changing the status quo and fixing our broken healthcare system. Too many people, like Athena Jones from Portsmouth, Virginia, spend their days at the bedside caring for their patients yet can't afford to care for themselves. For Athena, and the millions like her across this country, inaction is not an option.

"We stand with President Obama and those Senators and Representatives showing the political courage to do what is right and find solutions that deliver more for less and end the costly and immoral failure to provide quality, affordable care to every American. Unlike the last sixty years, political obstruction, misinformation and scare tactics from familiar voices plotting to kill reform will not stop health insurance reforms that will bring security and peace of mind to millions of Americans."