The Nation's Mayors Commend House Passage of Health Reform Bill

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the nation Mayors
commended the U.S. House of Representatives on passing, the Affordable Health
Care for America Act, a historic piece of legislation, and an important step
in reforming America's healthcare system.

In June, at the US Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in Providence (RI),
mayors from across the nation unanimously supported the health care reform
principles of reducing the long-term growth of health care costs; investing in
prevention and wellness; eliminating the barriers to people with pre-existing
conditions; and improving access to affordable health insurance for all
Americans.

America's cities account for more than $87 billion in healthcare spending each
year for their employees, retirees, and their families. These costs are
unsustainable for the long-term future of America's domestic and global
competitiveness.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is pleased that this legislation will contain
the growth rate of health care costs; protect individuals from denial of
coverage because of pre-existing conditions; and extends coverage to 36
million uninsured Americans.

"I want to applaud Speaker Pelosi for her extraordinary leadership and fierce
determination in pushing this legislation to the full House for
consideration," said Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline, Chair of the USCM
Children, Health and Human Services Committee. "The residents of Providence
and families across America cannot afford to wait any longer for comprehensive
health insurance reform. I urge members of the House to pass of a health care
reform bill that protects families and improves access to and the quality of
patient care for Rhode Islanders and all Americans."

"We applaud House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Chairmen Waxman, Rangel and Miller and
Congressman Dingell for their hard work on this very important and historic
legislation," stated Tom Cochran, U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive
Director.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of
cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,139 such cities in the
country today, each represented in the Conference by its chief elected
official, the Mayor. For additional information, visit www.usmayors.org.

SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors

Elena Temple, +1-202-309-4906, etemple@usmayors.org, or Carlos Vogel,
+1-202-257-9797, cvogel@usmayors.org, both of U.S. Conference of Mayors