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Contact: Germonique R. Ulmer
202-494-9876 (cell); gulmer@communitychange.org
WASHINGTON - Today, rural Americans cleared the air about
their position on health care reform at the "Rural Issues in Health Care Reform"
congressional briefing hosted by Reps. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) and Peter DeFazio
(D-Ore.). Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Wis.)
spoke at the briefing. The antics of extremist tea baggers gave birth to the
misconception that rural Americans were against health care reform when in fact
the stories and findings of the new report and mini-documentary released at the
briefing show otherwise.
"Rural communities have always been the
geographic and moral heart of America," said Sally Kohn, senior campaign
strategist at the Center for Community Change. "What's odd is that while
members of Congress from rural states are wielding disproportionate power in the
health care reform debate, rural voters have been largely invisible and ignored
or portrayed as against reform. Not only do most rural Americans want health
care reform, they need it even more than urban folks."
According to the
eye-opening report, "Sweet
the Bitter Drought: Why Rural America Needs Health Care Reform," rural
Americans are more likely to be underinsured, less likely to have choices in
insurance coverage, travel greater distances and often face shortages in health
care providers, medical services and technology.
The briefing also
included the release of a five minute documentary, "Health
Care for the Heartland," filmed at county fairs across the country this
summer. Jean Chaud from Belgrade, Maine was among several rural community
leaders to share her story with members of Congress. Jean talked about working
at a small business in rural Maine, and trying to cover the costs for individual
private insurance with two chronic medical conditions.
The briefing was
moderated by Ezra Klein of the Washington Post. States represented at the
briefing and in the documentary included: South Carolina, Virginia, Maine,
Nebraska, Tennessee and Missouri.
The report is available for download at
the Center
for Community Change.
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Since 1968, the Center for Community Change has
strengthened the leadership, voice and power of low-income communities
nationwide to confront the vital issues of today and build the social movements
of tomorrow.
www.communitychange.org
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