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HI, I'M NANCY-ANN DEPARLE, DIRECTOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE
OFFICE OF HEALTH REFORM AND I'M HERE FOR MY WEEKLY UPDATE ON
WHAT WE'RE DOING ON HEALTH CARE REFORM AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
CONGRESS IS WORKING *** PROPOSALS FOR HEALTH REFORM
THIS WEEK THAT WILL CUT COSTS AND ASSURE QUALITY AND
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS.
HERE AT THE WHITE HOUSE, WE ARE CONTINUING TO MEET WITH
AMERICANS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE HIGH COST OF CARE.
LAST WEEK WE MET WITH SEVERAL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO TOLD
US THAT THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE IS PREVENTING THEM
FROM HIRING MORE WORKERS.
IN FACT, ONE BUSINESS FROM NASHVILLE TOLD US THAT THEY HAD
TO LAY OFF 15 WORKERS OF THEIR 55-MEMBER WORK FORCE.
SEVERAL BUSINESS OWNERS SAID THEY ARE CUTTING BACK BENEFITS,
AND ASKING EMPLOYEES TO PAY MORE OUT OF POCKET.
NEXT WE WILL BE MEETING WITH FARMERS, RANCHERS AND
FISHERMEN -- THE PEOPLE WHO PRODUCE FOOD IN THIS COUNTRY.
MANY OF THEM ALSO SAY IT IS HARD TO FIND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE
COVERAGE OUT IN THE HEARTLAND, AND THAT THE COST OF THEIR CARE
CONTINUES TO RISE.
BUT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.
THIS WEEK WILL MARK PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FIRST 100 DAYS IN
OFFICE, AND HE'S ALREADY TAKEN IMPORTANT STEPS TOWARD HEALTH
REFORM: EXPANDING COVERAGE FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN,
INCREASING PREVENTION AND WELLNESS, BRINGING MORE NURSES
AND FRONT-LINE WORKERS INTO THE WORKFORCE, AND MOVING THIS
COUNTRY TOWARD ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS, WHICH WILL
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF CARE FOR EVERYONE.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE OUR WEBSITE, I HOPE YOU'LL BE SURE TO
REGISTER YOUR SUPPORT FOR HEALTH REFORM THIS YEAR.