New York City Central Labor Council Applauds Congressional Leaders Who Voted to Approve Landmark Health Care Reform Plan; City Labor Federation Remains Optimistic For Dissenting Leaders To Ultimately Support Compromise

NYCCLC Commends Vote as “A Defining Social Policy Achievement”

NEW YORK, November  9, 2009 – With new hope for all Americans to have the right to quality, affordable health care coverage, the New York City Central Labor Council (NYCCLC), AFL-CIO expressed its deep gratitude to the members of the New York Congressional delegation who voted in support of HR 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.   NYCCLC leaders noted that for 75 years, conscientious leaders have strived to create a comprehensive national system of health insurance.  On Nov. 7, that dream became a reality when the U.S.  House of Representatives approved a sweeping overhaul of the nation's health care system.  The debate now moves to the Senate in where the labor movement is hopeful that a comprehensive, bi-partisan compromise bill will be approved by both sides of Congress.

“After a long, hard-fought journey, the U.S. House passed historic health care reform bill that will improve the nation’s health care system, covering tens of millions of uninsured and making insurance more comprehensive, and less costly, for those who have it,” said Jack Ahern, president of the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, representing 1.3 million union members.

“H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, fulfills the decades-long promise to create a system that provides Americans with affordable, high-quality health care coverage.  Hopefully soon, the deep and morally troubling divide between the insured and the uninsured will be a part of our history and a new era in America will begin,” continued President Ahern.

“The New York City Central Labor Council applauds our Congressional leaders who voted in favor of providing affordable health care for all Americans.  We are hopeful that those Congressional members who voted against the bill will find a compromise they can accept and ultimately approve the final passage of a national health care reform bill that will be the most defining social policy of our day.”

Under the leadership and support of the national AFL-CIO, the NYCCLC mobilized affiliates and union members to urge New York Congressional members to pass this critical bill.  Thousands of letters, emails and phone calls from union members were made on behalf of the organized campaign.

The U.S. Senate will now consider a health care reform bill over the coming weeks, and then the House and Senate will seek a compromise and combine the bills in conference.

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