Rev. Cliff Frasier is the Faith Coordinator for the Service Employees International Union’s (SEIU) Healthcare Reform Campaign.
These final days leading up to the anticipated health care vote, policy-making of the past year and decades of debate on health care reform will finally come to a head. On behalf of those working and volunteering for our collaborative faith-coalitions, we say “thank you” to the thousands of thoughtful supporters whose letters, phone calls, emails, attendance at rallies, prayers and donations have collectively brought our campaign to where we stand now: one congressional process away from enacting historic reform.
Never before have we stood so close to reform on the one hand and defeat on the other.
The legislation is a far cry from what many of us had originally fought for, but its passage will be a game-changer moving forward. When Social Security passed 75 years ago, its provisions did not cover teachers, government workers, firms with fewer than 10 employees, librarians, and many other professions. It lacked coverage for 2/3 of African Americans and ½ of women. But today we are thankful that it did pass, setting us on the right road to dignity for all older Americans. With prayerful expectation, we believe that today’s health care legislation will clear the way for a better health care tomorrow.
At the moment, the news cycle has turned encouraging, and the vote is
on track for Sunday March 21. A number of House members whose support
hinges on restricting federal funds for abortion have indicated they
will vote “yes” – most notably Dale Kildee (MI 5) and Jim Oberstar (MN
8). A “no” voter the first time around, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH 10),
has been persuaded to move into the “yes” column. And the Congressional
Budget Office’s score of the bill reassures that not only is health
care reform deficit neutral, but will reduce the deficit within 10
years and by over a trillion dollars in the second 10 years.
But let’s not count our chickens before they’re hatched. Until the
House reaches the majority of 216 votes, our work is not done.
Congressional offices are busy tallying the calls, for and against.
Every call for health care reform reminds Congress: We voted for
progress and change, and we voted for a better health care future. With
a sense of urgency, let’s keep up the outreach to our representatives
in this final stretch, reminding them that we will thank and support
them down the road when and if they deliver.