The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on S. 1955, the "Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization Affordability Act of 2006" the first week in May. The Society of American Florists is urging all constituents to contact their senators and ask them to approve the measure.
If the Senate does not have enough votes to pass S. 1955, the opportunity to work on small-business health care plans this year will be over, SAF warns.
Situation:
SAF strongly supports the bipartisan SBHP legislation coauthored by Senators Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Conrad Burns (R-Mont.). The legislation would:
- Allow trade and professional associations to independently pool their members across state lines, gaining bargaining power that the government, big business and unions currently enjoy when negotiating with insurers for health care prices.
- Establish lower-cost options for small business and streamline the current regulations making it more attractive for insurance carriers to service more markets and offer more products.
SAF asks consituents to e-mail and/or send a fax and call your senators this week urging them to vote FOR S. 1955.
Click this link "Write to Congress", for a sample letter you can send as is or personalize if you wish.
Or, type and print the letter below on your company's letterhead and fax the letter to the federal offices of your Senators. For a complete list of your Senator's telephone and fax numbers, click here, "Senate Contact List."
On May 1, 2 or 3rd, call your Senators – 202/224-3121 and leave a message that you want him/her to vote for S. 1955.
Fax or e-mail a copy of your letter to SAF at 703/836-8705 or jlittle@safnow.org. We want to know that you have contacted your senators. It is critically important that ALL senators hear from you this week.
If you have any questions please call Jeanne Little at 800/336-4743, ext. 230 or e-mail her at jlittle@safnow.org, or Samm Malone at ext. 231 or e-mail him at smalone@safnow.org.