CIR Speaks Out on Budget’s Health Care Reserve Fund

In late March, CIR joined leading environmental, community and faith organizations in a press teleconference, calling on Congress to support the White House’s budget, which includes a $634 billion health care reserve fund as a “down payment” on the goal of establishing quality, affordable health care for all.  

Dr. Adam Graff, a Psychiatry resident at UNM Health Sciences Center and CIR member, spoke in the teleconference about the toll of the economy on his patients. “No one should have to choose between getting the medical care they need and paying the electric bill,” Dr. Graff said.

The budget was passed with the reserve fund intact in both the House and the Senate on April 2, 2009, and the two versions will be reconciled into one resolution when Congress returns from its spring recess.