FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2009
Congressman Charles Rangel addressing the ethnic and community media at a press conference organized by New York Community Media Alliance. NYCMA Executive Director Juana Ponce de Leon moderated the event. -- Photo by Mohsin Zaheer
NEW YORK: Congressman Charles Rangel has said today that the country's health delivery system is broken and if it is not fixed, the US could face a fiscal catastrophe.
Rangel addressed members of New York City's ethnic and community media at a press conference organized by New York Community Media Alliance, in collaboration with Manhattan Neighborhood Network.
Congressman Rangel explained the House of Representatives has three committees each considering their own health care reform bill, which will have to be reconciled into one bill after September. According to the Congressman, the Senate has two bill proposals that will also have to be resolved into one bill when Congress convenes next month. These proposed legislations, he hoped, would result in a final compromise bill between the two houses to fix the country's broken health care delivery system.
Mr. Rangel explained at great length different aspects of the reform program and fielded journalists' questions. He repeatedly made reference to insurance companies, which take "the lion's share" of the money, while contributing nothing to the heath care of an individual. Asked if the issue of health care had pushed immigration reform from the priority list in the Obama administration, Rangel responded that both issues needed to be addressed, the question was which one to tackle first. On several occasions, the Congressman iterated to moral responsibility for the country to take care of its people. One possible strategy is to bring in more people into health insurance by making it more affordable – by more people paying into the system – with a higher contribution made by those who can afford it. He conveyed a sense of urgency of the need to alleviate the small business owner's burden of insuring his employees through tax credits.
Asked if there was a chance that health care reform would not pass, he admonished the journalists to report the issues so that elected officials could be held accountable and vote in reform that would benefit their communities. Was the public option dead? According to Congressman Rangel, President Obama is a real advocate to bring health care insurance choice to the people by challenging and loosening the stranglehold insurance companies have on the health care delivery system, on people's well being and on the US economy. He said President Barak Obama is making a serious effort to extend health insurance to the close to 50 million uninsured Americans.
In reply to a question about extending health care to the illegal immigrants, Rangel said illegal immigrants will not be included in the bill, but pointed out that many were receiving emergency health care at hospital emergency rooms and community clinics across the nation.
The press conference was attended by more than 40 journalists representing different ethnic and community newspapers and radio and television channels.
Press conference coverage in the ethnic and community media
Amsterdam News, September 3, 2009
Weekly Gleaner, September 3, 2009
The Indian Express, September 4, 2009
Asia Tribune, September 3, 2009
Nowy Dziennik, August 29, 2009
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