August 17, 2009
The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201
Dear Secretary Sebelius,
We write to you concerning your recent comments about the public option in health insurance reform.
We stand in strong opposition to your statement that the public option is “not the essential element” of comprehensive reform. The opportunity to improve access to healthcare is a onetime opportunity. Americans deserve reform that is real-not smoke and mirrors. We cannot rely solely on the insurance companies’ good faith efforts to provide for our constituents. A robust public option is essential, if we are to ensure that all Americans can receive healthcare that is accessible, guaranteed and of high-quality.
To take the public option off the table would be a grave error; passage in the House of Representatives depends upon inclusion of it.
We have attached, for your review, a letter from 60 Members of Congress who are firm in their Position that any legislation that moves forward through both chambers, and into a final proposal for the President’s signature, MUST contain a public option.
Sincerely,
Raul Grijalva Co-Chair Congressional Progressive Caucus |
Lynn Woolsey Co-Chair Congressional Progressive Caucus |
Barbara Lee Co-Chair Congressional Black Caucus |
Signatories:
Member Name | PVI | District |
Corrine Brown | D+18 | FL-03 |
Albio Sires | D+21 | NJ-13 |
Alcee Hastings | D+28 | FL-23 |
Andre Carson | D+14 | IN-07 |
Barbara Lee | D+37 | CA-09 |
Barney Frank | D+14 | MA-14 |
Bennie Thompson | D+12 | MS-02 |
Bill Delahunt | D+9 | MA-10 |
Bill Pascrell | D+12 | NJ-08 |
Bob Filner | D+8 | CA-51 |
Carolyn Kilpatrick | D+31 | MI-13 |
Carolyn Maloney | D+26 | NY-14 |
Chaka Fattah | D+38 | PA-02 |
Chellie Pingree | D+8 | MN-01 |
Dennis Kucinich | D+8 | OH-10 |
Diane Watson | D+35 | CA-33 |
Donald Payne | D+33 | NJ-10 |
Donna Edwards | D+31 | MD-04 |
Earl Blumenauer | D+19 | OR-03 |
Ed Towns | D+38 | NY-10 |
Eddie Bernice Johnson | D+27 | TX-30 |
Elijah Cummings | D+25 | MD-07 |
Emanuel Cleaver | D+10 | MO-05 |
Eric Massa | R+5 | NY-29 |
Pete Stark | D+22 | CA-13 |
Grace Napolitano | D+18 | CA-38 |
Gwen Moore | D+22 | WI-04 |
Hank Johnson | D+24 | GA-04 |
Jackie Spier | D+23 | CA-12 |
Jerry Nadler | D+22 | NY-08 |
Jesse Jackson, Jr. | D+36 | IL-02 |
Jim McDermott | D+31 | WA-07 |
Jim McGovern | D+9 | MA-03 |
John Conyers | D+34 | MI-14 |
John Olver | D+14 | MA-01 |
John Tierney | D+7 | MA-06 |
John Yarmuth | D+2 | KY-03 |
Jose Serrano | D+41 | NY-16 |
Judy Chu | D+15 | CA-32 |
Keith Ellison | D_23 | MN-05 |
Laura Richardson | D+26 | CA-37 |
Linda Sanchez | D+12 | CA-39 |
Lloyd Doggett | D+6 | TX-25 |
Lucille Roybal-Alard | D+22 | CA-34 |
Luis Gutierrez | D+32 | IL-04 |
Lynn Woolsey | D+38 | CA-06 |
Marcia Fudge | D+32 | OH-11 |
Marcy Kaptur | D+10 | OH-09 |
Maurice Hinchey | D+6 | NY-22 |
Maxine Waters | D+31 | CA-35 |
Mazie Hirono | D+14 | HI-02 |
Mel Watts | D+16 | NC-12 |
Michael Honda | D+15 | CA-15 |
Mike Capuano | D+32 | MA-08 |
Nydia Valezquez | D+33 | NY-12 |
Peter DeFazio | D+2 | OR-04 |
Phil Hare | D+3 | IL-17 |
Raul Grijalva | D+6 | AZ-07 |
Robert Wexler | D+15 | FL-19 |
Rush Holt | D+5 | NJ-12 |
Sam Farr | D+19 | CA-17 |
Sheila Jackson Lee | D+24 | TX-18 |
William Lacy Clay | D+27 | M0-01 |
Yvette Clarke | D+38 | NY-11 |