Harkin Statement on President Obama's Health Address to a Joint Session of Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress.

“Tonight President Obama reclaimed the health reform initiative in a powerful way. He illustrated that failure is not an option when it comes to health reform and he made a powerful case that the current health system is dangerously broken, and that even people who have health insurance are at risk of medical or financial catastrophe. There is overwhelming consensus – including among many Republican Senators – that the current system is broken, and that doing nothing is not an option.

“Up until today, President Obama has rightly let Congress pave the way on health reform and develop a proposal that will cover the uninsured and provide affordable, robust, quality health insurance coverage for all Americans. Tonight the President took a step forward with strength, purpose, determination and resolve, to let Congress know he wants to accomplish this mission as soon as possible.

“President Obama gets high marks for his speech in my book.”

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