August 25, 2004
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) challenged the Bush Administration and Congressional Republicans to do more to address the rising number of Americans who have no health insurance and the steady decline in household income. Today, the Census Bureau announced that the number of people without health insurance nationwide increased by 1.4 million – the third annual increase in a row. 45 million people are now without insurance, many because they have lost their jobs. Over 5 million people have lost their health insurance since the beginning of the Bush Administration.
“The new Census Bureau numbers are tragic and indicate that millions of Americans are one doctor’s bill away from financial crisis” said Lee. “As President Clinton left office, the number of uninsured had decreased for the first time in 12 years, and the economy was booming. Now, there are 45 million Americans without insurance, including more than 4.6 million in California, and family income has dropped by $1,535 over the past three years.”
The Census Bureau also reported that over 1.3 million people fell out of the middle class into poverty into 2003, an increase of 4.3 million people living in poverty since the beginning of the Bush Administration.
“The President said we’re turning the corner, but we have to look at the facts,” said Lee. “Over 8 million people are still looking for work, and the average length of unemployment is at a 10-year high. As these numbers indicate, the small number of jobs being created pay less than the jobs we are losing and are less likely to include benefits.”
“These issues are vital to the lives of Americans. It is time for new leadership that will fight to protect the health and well-being of Americans.”
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Congresswoman Barbara Lee Responds to New Census Data Showing 45 Million Americans Without Health Insurance and Third Year of Decline in Income
Numbers Worsen Under Bush Administration
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) challenged the Bush Administration and Congressional Republicans to do more to address the rising number of Americans who have no health insurance and the steady decline in household income. Today, the Census Bureau announced that the number of people without health insurance nationwide increased by 1.4 million – the third annual increase in a row. 45 million people are now without insurance, many because they have lost their jobs. Over 5 million people have lost their health insurance since the beginning of the Bush Administration.
“The new Census Bureau numbers are tragic and indicate that millions of Americans are one doctor’s bill away from financial crisis” said Lee. “As President Clinton left office, the number of uninsured had decreased for the first time in 12 years, and the economy was booming. Now, there are 45 million Americans without insurance, including more than 4.6 million in California, and family income has dropped by $1,535 over the past three years.”
The Census Bureau also reported that over 1.3 million people fell out of the middle class into poverty into 2003, an increase of 4.3 million people living in poverty since the beginning of the Bush Administration.
“The President said we’re turning the corner, but we have to look at the facts,” said Lee. “Over 8 million people are still looking for work, and the average length of unemployment is at a 10-year high. As these numbers indicate, the small number of jobs being created pay less than the jobs we are losing and are less likely to include benefits.”
“These issues are vital to the lives of Americans. It is time for new leadership that will fight to protect the health and well-being of Americans.”
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