Today, SEIU joined hundreds of groups and organizations across the country in signing onto an open letter to the U.S. Senate. The message was simple: a "no" on amendments is a "yes" on health care reform.

Dear Senators: 

  Thanks to the tireless work of our President, our House and Senate leaders, and advocates around the country, the health reform bill signed into law achieves a milestone on behalf of the health and well-being of the American people. Beginning immediately, small businesses will no longer have to choose between providing health insurance and hiring another worker and parents will not have to fight insurance company bureaucrats to treat their children's pre-existing illnesses. As reform reaches full implementation, not only will 32 million more Americans gain insurance, but Medicare's life will be extended and the country's fiscal condition will improve with more than one trillion dollars in deficit reduction.

Important improvements to the health care reform package and to the student loan program are included in H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act. This bill will make health insurance even more affordable for families, close the Medicare prescription drug doughnut hole, and increase federal support for Medicaid programs. It will also end wasteful subsidies in the student loan program and use the savings to give more young people the opportunity to attend college by increasing Pell grants to nearly $6,000, making them available to more students, and making important investments in minority serving institutions and community colleges. Many of these ideas were advanced with bipartisan support. We ask every Senator to support this bill without amendment. A no on amendments is a yes on health care and college affordability.

To view the entire letter and its signers, download the PDF.

(Scroll down in document below to see the list of organizations that signed on)

Joint Letter: No Amendments to the Health Care Reconciliation Bill