[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9546-9547]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     COVER THE UNINSURED WEEK 2007

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise in recognition of Cover the Uninsured 
Week, which is being held this year from April 23 to 29. As many of us 
know, this nonpartisan initiative was created to focus the Nation's 
attention on one of the most serious challenges facing our health care 
system--ensuring access to quality, affordable coverage.
  Since the first annual Cover the Uninsured Week was observed 5 years 
ago, the health care crisis has, unfortunately, worsened. At last 
count, nearly

[[Page 9547]]

46 million Americans lacked coverage, including 400,000 in my home 
State of Nevada. More than 100,000 of these uninsured Nevadans are 
children. The context for these numbers, which are staggering in 
themselves, is even more troubling. For too many, premium costs are 
escalating faster than they can manage while benefits are 
deteriorating. Being a hard-working American is also no longer a ticket 
to health coverage, as shown by the fact that 8 out of 10 uninsured 
people either work or are in working families. Even when they can find 
good health insurance, many families must shortchange other basic needs 
to afford out-of-pocket expenses or forgo necessary care altogether.
  Every year we update these statistics and findings about the 
uninsured, but the same themes still ring true. The goal should be to 
ensure that all Americans can access and afford the health care they 
need, regardless of their income, age, employment, or health status. 
Sadly, we as a nation continue to fall short.
  Cover the Uninsured Week is an opportunity to reflect on more than 
just this current state of affairs. It is also a time to call for a new 
direction on health care in America. Whether one is a Democrat or 
Republican, a Member of Congress or the State legislatures, we must all 
work together to heed the voices of the American people who are 
counting on us. So in honor of this year's Cover the Uninsured Week, 
let us all renew our commitment to improving our health care system. I 
look forward to a strong debate in the Senate on these vital issues, 
including the next step of updating the State Children's Health 
Insurance Program to better meet the needs of the Nation's children and 
families.

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