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[Kathleen Sebelius] Welcome to HealthReform.gov, and thank you for watching
our weekly update.
It's crunch time for health reform here in Washington, and we're
doing all we can to help make health reform a reality.
We know that the current system is unsustainable.
It's unsustainable for employers.
Small business owners have been forced to choose between staying
afloat and providing health care for their workers.
It's unsustainable for states.
Health care spending now consumes 30 percent more of state and local
budgets than it did just 20 years ago, leaving less money
for schools and public safety and more pressure to raise taxes.
It's unsustainable for our nation.
Health care costs are the number one driver of our long-term
deficits, which is why achieving health care reform is the single
most important thing we can do for our nation's
long-term fiscal health.
And it's unsustainable for people like you and me.
Last year, more than half of Americans postponed medical
care or skipped their medications because they couldn't afford it.
Over the past nine years, premiums have doubled, rising at three
times the rate of wages.
Now we need to continue to hear your voices.
If you haven't already, please sign the statement of support
for health reform, and be sure to tell your friends and family
to do the same.
In Washington, change is never easy, but I know that together,
we'll make health reform a reality.
Thank you again for visiting HealthReform.gov, and be sure
to check back soon for the latest updates.