DC Federation Supports Health Reform Proposals

The District of Columbia Federation of College Democrats believes that health care reform is one of the most important issues of our time. The group stands by Democratic proposals in Congress, specifically those which provide a public health insurance option, and urges legislators to complete the legislative process this year.

“It seems evident that now is the time to fix the heath care system,” said Fitz Lufkin, Federation President, “There is a complete lack of stability, security, and affordability in our health care system and the Democratic proposals in Congress are effective means of solving the problems we face. They will create a more competitive marketplace, end discrimination by insurance companies, and assure that all Americans have access to health insurance.”

Indeed, these views are also held by the very federal agencies which will play a role in any of the new healthcare systems that have been proposed. Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services released a new report that details the struggles young adults have in the current health care system, demonstrating exactly why health insurance reform is so vital for them.

“Today, young adults between 19 and 29 years old are about a third of the entire uninsured population in America,” said Joseph St. George, Federation Vice President, “They have the highest rate of uninsured of any age group.”

On Friday, College Democrats from around the city rallied at the White House to support health care reform. In a strong showing of support, they called on Congress to act swiftly in passing a bill by the end of the year.

Lufkin summed up the sentiment among the students, “President Obama has affirmed, and rightly so, that heath care is a human right. No American deserves to remain sick, be refused treatment, or even die because they cannot afford health insurance.”