News release
When You Care About Children's Health, It Shows
November 5, 2009
Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996
Leading Members of Congress Set Tone By Wearing Pins Signifying Support for Healthcare Reform that Works for America's Kids
Fourteen Senate and House leaders are wearing their commitment to our nation's children on their sleeves - or at least on their lapels - by sporting special "pacifier" lapel pins created by MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization for moms and everyone who has a mom. The pins are part of MomsRising's We Won't Be Pacified Until Our Broken Healthcare System Is Fixed campaign, urging Congress to pass healthcare legislation that meets the needs of the millions of children and families for affordable and comprehensive healthcare coverage.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senators Al Franken, Mark Udall, Barbara Mikulski, Robert J. Casey, Jr., Debbie Stabenow, Roland Burris, Maria Cantwell and Robert Menendez, Representatives Lois Capps, John Lewis, Sam Farr, Maxine Waters and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi are the first Members of Congress to not only wear the lapel pins but provide photographs of themselves wearing the pins.
"Health insurance reform is so important for Nevada's families," said Nevada Senator Harry Reid. "Not only can we reduce costs by holding insurance companies accountable, but we can increase choice. More options will mean that more children have access to the care they need. That's what this is about. Helping all mothers and fathers afford health care for their children."
"My role as Speaker of the House is an extension of my role as a mother," said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. "As a mother, I know America's families can't wait for health insurance reform. The current cost of health care often makes preventive services unaffordable for women and children, and almost 80% of women do not have maternity care coverage in their private plans. We will not be pacified until we pass this bill, which eliminates pre-existing conditions, covers maternity care, well-baby care and well-child care, and eliminates higher coverage costs for women."
MomsRising and its more than one million members are calling on Congress to pass healthcare legislation that includes:
- dependable preventive care, to catch problems early, keep kids in schoolrooms and out of emergency rooms and avoid unnecessary healthcare costs
- quality affordable coverage for all kids that goes beyond fix-it care and helps them grow and reach their potential; and
- simplified enrollment systems, so neither private nor public bureaucracies stand between an eligible child and the care he or she needs.
"True leaders stand up for the most vulnerable among us," said MomsRising Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner. "When it comes to health care, children should be among our highest priorities and these 14 Members of Congress are standing up to show that they have our children's and our families’ best interests at heart. We hope that other Members of Congress will join the effort and wear the pins we are delivering to their offices."
MomsRising kicked off its We Won't Be Pacified campaign by asking its members to share personal stories about how the healthcare system has failed them. The compilation of hundreds of stories, Mothers Know Best: MomsRising Members Share Their Personal Healthcare Stories, paints a highly personal and overwhelmingly disturbing picture of the shortcomings of the current system when it comes to children and families. MomsRising members in Washington, DC delivered to U.S. Senate offices the books of stories along with pacifiers to urge lawmakers to make sure that our healthcare system works for families.
Throughout the summer and continuing into fall, MomsRising members across the nation have been meeting with their Senators' district offices, providing copies of the Mothers Know Best book and sharing their unique perspectives on how the current healthcare system is failing to meet the needs of children and families.
To see pictures of the members of Congress wearing MomsRising lapel pins, click here.