LWV President, "Historic" Health Care Reform

Washington, D.C. – Statement from Mary G. Wilson, President of the League of Women Voters of the United States:

"Today's votes by the U.S. House of Representatives mark an historic milestone in American political history.  The path that began with Social Security and continued with Medicare is reaching fruition with this health care legislation.  Comprehensive health care reform will begin to undo decades of neglect and inaction that has left millions of Americans uninsured and at risk.

"This legislation is a monumental step in the fight for social justice. 

"Too many citizens lack adequate health insurance coverage and rising costs threaten everyone.  Passage of comprehensive health care legislation greatly expands coverage to include millions more Americans; protects the coverage that currently delivers care to most; reduces costs over the long term; and accomplishes these goals at a reasonable cost. 

"It would be difficult to overstate the importance of today's actions, and we commend our elected representatives for standing up for Americans and having the courage to do what needs to be done to confront the health care crisis in our country.  The League congratulates the House leadership on a closely-fought victory. 

"We can expect transformational reform from these bills.  Access to health care will be extended to all Americans.  Mechanisms to control rising costs will be put in place.  And the marketplace will be expanded and safeguards put in place to protect consumers.

"Truly, this legislation is monumental, historic and transforming.

"Today we took the critical step in dealing with the current health care crisis.  Tomorrow, many Americans will wake up to a new week and a new future that looks a great deal more promising."

 

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to men and women of all ages.

ACTION ALERT: Pass Strong Health Care Legislation Now!

ACTION ALERT: Pass Strong Health Care Legislation Now!

The House of Representatives is poised to take final action on health care reform legislation in the next few days. If ever there was a time to let your Representative know of your support for comprehensive health care reform, this is it! Please contact your Representative today and urge him or her to vote for the legislation that is coming to the House floor that will establish comprehensive health care reform...

The federal government needs to take strong action to extend health care coverage and reduce health care costs for individuals, businesses and communities. The current state of health care in this country is unsustainable. America is facing a health care crisis caused by a combination of skyrocketing costs and an insurance system that leaves 47 million living day-to-day without coverage. The federal government needs to take strong action to reduce costs for individuals, businesses and communities. As a nation, we are spending $1 out of every $6 we earn on health care. Over the last three decades, increases in the amount spent on health care have consistently risen faster than wages and inflation. If nothing is done, we could be spending $3 trillion for health care by 2011 and $4.2 trillion by 2016.

We cannot afford to do nothing. If comprehensive and effective health care legislation is not passed now, more Americans will lose coverage, endangering both our economy and our health.

TAKE ACTION

1. Contact your Representative now, by clicking here and entering your zip code. You may also call the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask for your Representative. Tell your Representative to support comprehensive health care reform legislation.
2. Send this alert to other concerned citizens - your grassroots network, your friends and coworkers. Encourage them to contact their elected leaders.

BACKGROUND

Learn more about what the League is doing to support health care reform.

 

Explanations of Questions on the 2010 Census Form

See a sample census form

How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on

April 1, 2010?

The Census Bureau asks this question to help get an accurate count of the number of people in

the household on Census Day, April 1, 2010. The answer should be based on the guidelines in

the 'Start here' section. We use the information to ensure response accuracy and completeness

and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing information.

Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in

Question 1?

Asked since 1880. The Census Bureau asks this question to help identify people who may have

been excluded in the count provided in Question 1. The information is used to ensure response

accuracy and completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or

missing information.

Is this house, apartment, or mobile home: owned with mortgage, owned without

mortgage, rented, occupied without rent?

Asked since 1890. Homeownership rates serve as an indicator of the nation's economy. The

data are also used to administer housing programs and to inform planning decisions.

What is your telephone number?

The Census Bureau asks for a phone number in case they need to contact a respondent when

a form is returned with incomplete or missing information.

Please provide information for each person living here. Start with a person here who

owns or rents this house, apartment, or mobile home. If the owner or renter lives

somewhere else, start with any adult living here. This will be Person 1. What is Person

1's name?

Listing the name of each person in the household helps the respondent to include all members,

particularly in large households where a respondent may forget who was counted and who was

not. Also, names are needed if additional information about an individual must be obtained to

complete the census form. Federal law protects the confidentiality of personal information,

including names.

What is Person 1's sex?

Asked since 1790. Census data about sex are important because many federal programs must

differentiate between males and females for funding, implementing and evaluating their

programs. For instance, laws promoting equal employment opportunity for women require

census data on sex. Also, sociologists, economists, and other researchers who analyze social

and economic trends use the data.

What is Person 1's age and Date of Birth?

Asked since 1800. Federal, state, and local governments need data about age to interpret most

social and economic characteristics, such as forecasting the number of people eligible for

Social Security or Medicare benefits. The data are widely used in planning and evaluating

government programs and policies that provide funds or services for children, working-age

adults, women of childbearing age, or the older population.

Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?

Asked since 1970. The data collected in this question are needed by federal agencies to

monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as under the Voting Rights Act

and the Civil Rights Act. State and local governments may use the data to help plan and

administer bilingual programs for people of Hispanic origin.

What is Person 1's race?

Asked since 1790. Race is key to implementing many federal laws and is needed to monitor

compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. State governments use the

data to determine congressional, state and local voting districts. Race data are also used to

assess fairness of employment practices, to monitor racial disparities in characteristics such

as health and education and to plan and obtain funds for public services.

Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?

This is another question the Census Bureau asks in order to ensure response accuracy and

completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing

information.