Key Senate leaders have confirmed their commitment to write legislation to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system by early June.
In a Monday letter to President Barack Obama, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) affirmed their mutual intention to move major health reform.
"For nearly a year, we have been working together toward the shared goal of significant reforms to our healthcare system," they said. "We must act swiftly, because the cost of inaction is too high for individuals, families, businesses, state and federal governments."
The committees headed by Kennedy and Baucus share jurisdiction over healthcare reform legislation in the Senate. They said their committees plan to create similar legislation that can be quickly merged into a single bill for consideration on the Senate floor.
"The unprecedented level of funding devoted to healthcare reform in your budget this
year leaves no doubt about your commitment to the goals of expanding coverage, reducing costs and improving health and healthcare," they told the president.On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee held a healthcare reform roundtable, with two more scheduled in May. In his opening remarks, Baucus said, "the stars have aligned" to pass healthcare reform.
Grassley urged the committee to find common ground. "If we're to succeed in making real changes, all of us are going to have to listen and consider many ideas," he said. "This is the toughest issue and most needed issue that Sen. Baucus and I have ever been involved in."