For Immediate Release
Thursday, June 9, 2005
Contact Information:
Paul Sonn, 917 566–0680
Landmark Health Care Bill Moves Forward
City Council Holds Second Hearing On Amended Health Care Security Act(Intro. 468-A)
New York, NY Today the New York City Council will hold a second hearing on the New York City Health Care Security Act an innovative proposal, which would put New York at the forefront of cities and states responding to the national health care crisis.
As health costs rise, responsible employers are struggling to compete against companies that cut costs by not providing health care, explains Paul Sonn, deputy director of the Brennan Centers Poverty Program. A broad coalition led by businesses, public health leaders and religious leaders coordinated by New York Jobs with Justice is urging New York City to respond by enacting the Health Care Security Act. The Brennan Center designed the Health Care Security Act and is advising the coalition and the city on the proposal.
The new law would cover employers in five industries in New York City groceries, construction, hotels, janitorial services, and industrial laundries sectors where most employers currently pay for health care for their employees. The law would protect employers in these industries from the pressure to cut health care by requiring all employers to pay for a minimum level of health care for their workforces. Similar proposals are under consideration in communities across the country including San Francisco, Maryland and New Jersey.
We have been working with the city and leading national experts to fine tune the Health Care Security Act and ensure that it complies with applicable legal requirements, explains Sonn. Were looking forward to helping the City Council and the Administration now finalize and enact this badly needed legislation.
A legal research and advocacy center affiliated with NYU School of Law, the Brennan Center works with federal, state and local policymakers across the country on reform initiatives in a range of issue areas.
For more information on the Health Care Security Act, please visit the campaign website at www.nychealthcaresecurity.com.