Schakowsky Statement on Joint Session Health Care Address

WASHINGTON, DC (September 9, 2009) — Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, Progressive Caucus Health Care Task Force Chairwoman, released the following statement after President Obama address a joint session of Congress. Rep. Schakowsky, a senior member of the Energy & Commerce Committee, has been outspoken about the need for a public option and health care reform. "I believe with this President we are going to make history by passing legislation that will meet the health care needs of all people. The American people have been subjected to months of lies and misinformation but tonight, President Obama set the record straight and made it very clear that the fundamental purpose of health insurance reform is to provide quality, affordable health care to the millions and millions of Americans who are hungry for this change...."The President knows that the best opportunity we have to bring down costs, increase access, and improve care is to create a robust public health insurance option that will create competition and hold health insurance companies accountable for the practices that price people out of the health care they need....