Congressional Democrats Call For Improved Health Care For Rural Americans

John DuBois, University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Reps. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) and Steve Kagen (D-Wisc.) came out Thursday to support a report released by the Center for Community Change and the Center for Rural Affairs on rural communities' attitudes toward health care reform.

"Health care currently is for the privileged and that’s not how it should be,” Clyburn said.

According to the report, entitled "Sweet The Bitter Drought: Why America Needs Health Care Reform," 82 percent of rural counties are classified as medically under-served areas. Medicaid and Medicare account for 60 percent of rural hospital revenues. In 2006, twenty-five percent of family farmers with health insurance reported debt from medical expenses. The likelihood that rural Americans are under-insured are seventy percent higher than for urban Americans.

“Medical debt leaves women and rural americans afraid because doctors won't give them check-ups without insurance, even if it is a dire situation,” said Cindy Shawcross of the People Escaping Poverty Project.

Female Senators Stand Up For Women’s Health

John DuBois, University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

According to a group of female U.S. Senators, women have to pay one and a half times more for health insurance than men nationwide. In addition, the Senators said that women tend to need more hospital care then men making them more susceptible to higher rates.

Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Barbara Mikulski (D-M.D.), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) spoke at an event called "Standing Up For Women’s Health" Thursday along side National Women's Law Center Co-President Marcia Greenberger.

“If we look at statistics, its estimated 64 million women lack....health insurance. Over half of medical bankruptcies are filled by female headed households. [For} too many women and their families, getting quality healthcare is not available for them today,” Shaheen said.

“Women want healthcare reform and they want it now,” Klobuchar said.

The Senators said that the majority of individual health insurance policies in the U.S. do not cover maternity care because it is considered to be a pre-existing condition.

“As you think of these women who are already battered and in a weak and vulnerable state and to find out they can’t even go see a doctor which is a part of their recovery and they can’t even mend because they have been domestically abused. This is why it’s important to get rid of these pre-existing condition rules,” Klobuchar said.

U.N. Environment Programme To Deliver Important Environmental Study At Copenhagen Summit

John DuBois, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is slated to present an important environmental study at the upcoming international climate change summit in Copenhagen.

“With this report we wish to remind the world [that] with everyday that passes, the underlying trends that science has provided to humanity about what is happening on the planet and what we are causing to happen on the planet, is such a dramatic nature. Shying away from a major agreement in Copenhagen would be unforgivable," UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said during a press conference Wednesday.

The UNEP believes the study, titled the Climate Change Science Compendium 2009, is not a consensus document or an update of any other process. Instead, UNEP claims it is a presentation of some exciting scientific findings, interpretations, ideas, and conclusions that have emerged among scientists.

The Compendium finds that temperatures are rising because of the increased pollution in the atmosphere. The increased temperatures, as a result are speeding up the melting of glaciers, raising sea levels. In addition, the study warns of collapsing ecosystems and acidification in the oceans.

Frank Urges House Committee To Support Anti-Discrimination Bill

John DuBois, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

The House Committee on Education and Labor held a hearing on Wednesday to discuss the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which was introduced by U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) in June of this year.

The bill, known as H.R. 3017, would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

During the hearing, Frank implored his colleagues in the House to support the legislation.

"Let me just say to my colleagues. There's nothing to be afraid of. These are our fellow human beings. They're not asking you for anything other in this bill, for the right to earn a living. Can't you give them that. If you don't like them and don't want to be friends I think your missing on something, but that's your choice," Frank said.

According to Frank, the bill will provide more job opportunities based on a candidate's skill, work ethic and experience, rather than his or her sexual orientation.

Basketball Coaches Shoot To Win On Health Care Reform

John DuBois-University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Although the Basketball coaches present at Tuesday's Coaches V.S. Cancer Rally in Washington, D.C. usually lead teams that play against each other, they were more than willing to unite behind fighting cancer.

The rally, sponsored by the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network and the National Association of Basketball Coaches, was aimed at urging Congress to pass health care reform, a move that would provide a way for more lower income families to detect cancer sooner.

"I know firsthand what cancer can do to you and I know how it can hurt a family," said Coach Ed DeChellis of Penn State.

Other coaches in attendance were Tubby Smith of University of Minnesota, Mike Brey of University of Notre Dame, Oliver Purnell of Clemson University and John Thompson III of Georgetown University.