WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is applauding the U.S. Senate for passing an amendment early this month that calls on Congress to enact legislation this year on health-insurance reform for small businesses and the self-employed. While non-binding, the “Sense of The Senate” amendment was passed unanimously.
Proposed by U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and co-sponsored by 15 other Senators including Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the amendment asks Congress to enact legislation that “improves access to affordable and meaningful health-insurance coverage, especially for Americans in the small group and individual health-insurance markets.”
“Today’s bipartisan vote is an excellent indication of support to address the health-insurance needs of our nation’s small businesses,” says Dan Danner, executive vice president of NFIB. “We commend Sen. Durbin for his continued leadership on this issue, and are grateful to see all of these Senators continue to work together to find common ground on healthcare reform for the small-group and individual health-insurance markets.
“We are especially supportive of the affirmed commitment to enacting legislation this year that facilitates and includes pooling mechanisms across state lines and provides for tax incentives for the purchase of private insurance coverage,” Danner adds. “These are two very important pieces of a comprehensive health-insurance reform package that are needed to help our nation’s small and independent businesses.
“We will continue to work with leaders on both sides of the aisle and encourage the full Congress to enact health-insurance reform this year.”
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