Schakowsky and Stabenow Reintroduce Health Care for Women Resolution

SCHAKOWSKY AND STABENOW REINTRODUCE HEALTH CARE FOR WOMEN RESOLUTION

Washington, D.C.–U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), the Democratic Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues, and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) joined together today to reintroduce the Health Care for Women Resolution in both the Senate and House. The resolution, which was reintroduced on the same day as a major report on women's healthcare was released, would ensure that national health care reform legislation addresses the needs of women and families. The report, which is known as the "Columbia Report,... highlights the importance of providing healthcare for women across their lifespan.

"Our resolution calls on Congress to pass a national healthcare reform bill within 18 months that directly addresses the healthcare needs of women,... said U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). "Women face exceptional challenges and have a very personal stake in fixing our broken healthcare system–they understand we need to act now. As the Democratic Co-Chair of the Women's Caucus, I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and the Obama Administration to win a solution that guarantees affordable, quality and comprehensive care for women and their families....

"Women are the gatekeepers of their families' health. If we are serious about keeping children and families healthy, we must focus more attention on keeping women healthy,... said Senator Stabenow. "Women must have affordable health care that they can rely on through their life transitions, including starting a family, working part-time or full-time, divorce, or caring for a sick or elderly parent....

The Health Care for Women Resolution would address the inequities in our current health care system by expressing Congress' support for providing greater access to quality health care for women. The problems with our current health care system and the rising number of uninsured disproportionately affect women and families. Women, who are often the primary caregivers and decision makers in families, are particularly hurt by a healthcare system that is neither affordable nor accessible. More than 17 million non-elderly women were uninsured in 2006, an increase of 1.2 million women since 2004. Women also pay 68 percent more than men for out-of-pocket medical costs. These disparities not only contribute to poor health for women, but they also affect the people they care for, including their children. Thirteen percent of all pregnant women and 20.4 percent of all females of childbearing age (12.6 million) were uninsured in 2006.