EdLabor Journal

The Graduation for All Act of 2009

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:26:00 -0500

Strengthening Our Schools, Our Community and Our Future Competitiveness

The high school dropout crisis poses one of the greatest threats to our nation�s economic growth and competitiveness. Each day 7,000 U.S. students drop out of high school. More than half of all students who drop out are from the so-called �dropout factories� � the 2,000 high schools with dropout rates above 40 percent. Many of these students come from a struggling middle school. President Obama has challenged Congress and the American people to take action by asking every American to commit to at least one year of higher education or training. This will require addressing our nation�s dropout crisis and dramatically improving graduation rates.

The Graduation for All Act (H.R. 4122) will make a down-payment on our future competitiveness by helping our lowest-performing middle and high schools improve student achievement, increase graduation rates, and promote college enrollment. Specifically, the legislation would:
Turn around schools with the highest dropout rates.

Creates a new $2 billion competitive grant program to improve nation�s lowest performing high schools and middle schools.
Provides school districts with clear guidelines on turn around strategies and encourages flexibility in implementing the appropriate model at the school level.
Supports partnerships among school districts and their lowest performing high schools, their feeder middle schools and the local community to help systemically align best practices in turnaround strategies.

Provide students at risk of dropping out with the tools to stay in school and succeed.

Combines rigorous coursework with academic and social support services to encourage students and keep them engaged in school.
Helps schools implement a data system to allow teachers and other school staff to identify students at risk of dropping out early on, based on key indicators such as attendance or failing a core course.

Promote college enrollment and career readiness.

Prepares students for college by providing them with information about financial aid options, developing graduation and career plans and offering classes on a college campus.
Allows students to earn up to two years of college credit through Early College High Schools or dual enrollment programs while still in high school to increase access to college and employment.

How the bill works:

An eligible district who receives a grant must:

Identify which schools, middle school and high schools, will be redesigned using evidence-based strategies and materials to provide rigorous, relevant curricula and instruction.
Conduct a needs analysis of a range of factors including graduation rate, capacity, and at-risk students.
Choose a Model of Success, as defined in the bill, to help make the most effective and appropriate changes in the school. These models range from transformation to restarting the school as a charter.
Build a Graduation Improvement Team, including school leaders, teachers, experts and other staff from the school and the community to help carry out the Model of Success.
Implement Early Warning Data Systems to use academic and behavioral indicators to identify students who may be at risk of dropping out, determine which interventions are appropriate, and to monitor the effectiveness of the interventions so that changes can be made as necessary.
Ensure the principals have autonomy over staffing and budget in their schools.

Support for H.R. 4122:

First Focus Campaign for Children:
"First Focus Campaign for Children is pleased to support the Graduation for All Act. The legislation provides a critical focus on supporting the nation�s middle and high school students. While we understand that this is a work in progress, the legislation includes a comprehensive approach to strengthening student achievement from which we can build. We applaud this effort, and look forward to working with Congress to support the success of the nation�s young people."

National Middle School Association:
"National Middle School Association called on policymakers, educators, and business leaders to lead a national effort to transform middle level education and give every young adolescent the opportunity to achieve to the highest standards. The Graduation for All Act is an essential step in meeting that goal. The legislation calls for the bold actions that are needed turn around our lowest performing middle and high schools and make access to quality education for students a reality, not just a promise."

-- Betty Edwards, Executive Director

Democrats for Education Reform:
"Democrats for Education Reform congratulates House Democrats for introducing the 'Graduation for All Act.'

"We particularly want to applaud the leadership of Chairman Miller, and key authors of the bill like Representatives Fattah, Hinojosa, Scott, Griijalva, and Davis for bringing together their ideas and working to create an integrated and comprehensive approach to high school reform.

"'This bill draws some very bright lines for intervening in the nation's 'drop-out' factories and, if necessary, shutting them down so that students can attend schools that will provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in college and in the workforce,' said Charles Barone, DFER's Director of Federal Policy. 'We've known for years what the problems are. What the authors of 'Graduation for All' have shown is that they have the political courage to act.'

"'A skilled and educated workforce is absolutely essential to students' futures, and to our nation's economic recovery. We urge Congress to put this bill on the legislative fast track given the dire condition in so many of our nation's high schools which deny millions of students the opportunity to attend college and obtain secure employment that pays a living wage.'"

This Week: Hearing on H1N1 and Sick Leave Policies, and Hearing on Literacy Skills

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:09:13 -0500

The Committee has a full schedule this week, including:

November 17: Hearing on how employer paid sick leave policies can help slow the spread of contagious diseases, like the H1N1 flu virus.

November 19: Hearing to review current federal literacy initiatives and explore ways to improve the reading comprehension skills of all children from birth through high school.

Note: The previously-scheduled Committee vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act has been postponed.

News of the Day: For many ill with the flu, staying home isn't an option

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0500

In response to President Obama's declaration of the H1N1 flu as a national emergency and federal health and labor officials urging sick workers to stay home, Rep. George Miller and Rep. Lynn Woolsey introduced the H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave Bill. It would provide five paid sick days for a worker sent home or directed to stay home by their employer for a contagious illness, such as the H1N1 flu virus.

Today the Los Angeles Times wrote an excellent article on why this legislation is necessary. As they said, "For many ill with the flu, staying home isn't an option." And they explained it this way:

For now, some feel torn between public health and protecting their jobs. Nationwide, 84% of workers said they felt pressured to come to work sick because of the recession, according to a September poll by Vancouver-based Angus Reid Strategies. The poll also showed that 69% of workers had not been offered vaccines or other precautions from employers.

One in six workers say they or a family member have been fired, suspended, punished or threatened for staying home sick or caring for a sick relative, according to a survey last year by the Washington, D.C.-based Public Welfare Foundation. Many large employers, such as Disney and Wal-Mart, dock workers disciplinary points for staying home even when they are ill.

"We are seeing more and more stories of workers who are infected with the virus but can't afford to stay home because they don't have paid sick leave," Miller said. "This puts both their co-workers and their customers at risk -- and could cost their employers money in lost productivity."

Chairman Miller cited an estimate, based on a 2004 study at Emory University, that the economy loses $180 billion in productivity a year when sick employees show up to work. The H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave Bill covers both full-time and part-time workers (on a pro-rated basis) in businesses with 15 or more workers. Employers that already provide at least 5 days� paid sick leave are exempt. Additionally, an employer can end paid sick leave at any time by informing the employee that the employer believes they�re well enough to return to work. Providing security for employees who follow their employer�s direction to stay home because of contagious illness, they could not be fired, disciplined or made subject to retaliation for following directions. This bill would take effect 15 days after being signed into law and sunsets after two years.

According to the article, providing sick leave is not only good for the employee, but also beneficial to the bottom line.

Some employers say paid sick leave saves them money in the long run.

"If they're sick and they're getting other employees sick, that's just going to impact our employees more," said April Boduc, a spokeswoman for San Diego-based Sempra Energy, which gives employees 10 paid sick days a year and allows them to bank unused days and donate vacation days to sick co-workers.

News of the Day: A serving of food safety

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:30:00 -0500

The Las Vegas Sun ran an editorial on Tuesday entitled,"A serving of food safety: Congress should make sure children are protected from food-borne illnesses" that highlighted Chairman George Miller's letter to the GAO asking for an investigation into contaminated beef in school meals.

The Sun said:

A recent report to Congress found that the Agriculture Department�s Food and Nutrition Service, which provides up to 20 percent of the food served in the nation�s schools, doesn�t always provide the schools with timely recall notices. That increases the risk of contaminated food making its way onto children�s plates.

In response to that finding and other news stories, Chairman Miller wrote, �Recent media reports have drawn our attention yet again to significant recalls of contaminated ground beef that was available in the commercial marketplace. Although there are no reports of schools being implicated in any of the food safety illnesses related to this latest wave of recalls, I am concerned that the systems in place do not adequately minimize schools� risk for procuring and providing contaminated products purchased through commercial channels for use in the school meal programs.�

The Sun said, "Miller is correct to call for a full investigation, and he should press the issue," and that is exactly what he plans to do.

Chairman Miller's floor speeches about the Affordable Health Care for America Act

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:45:00 -0500

Rep. George Miller, Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, delivers his comments during the floor debate on H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care For America Act on November 7, 2009.

Rep. George Miller, Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, delivers a rebuttal to the proposed Republican amendment during the floor debate on H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care For America Act, on November 7, 2009.

Interactive Graphic for the Affordable Health Care for America Act - H.R. 3962

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500

News of the Day: Seniors, doctors groups throw their support behind House healthcare bill

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:15:00 -0500

Big news yesterday as the nation's largest senior citizen group AND the nation's largest organization of doctors both offered support for the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

The Los Angeles Times reports:

The [AARP], which has been pushing for a health overhaul for more than a year, had withheld a formal endorsement of any of the healthcare bills being developed by congressional Democrats.

That endorsement was followed by an announcement at about 10 a.m. Pacific time from the American Medical Assn. in which the nation's largest doctors group voiced its support for the measure.

AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said today that the group saw the House Democratic bill as the most promising proposal.

...

The AMA's support for the House bill comes ahead of a critical policymaking meeting of its House of Delegates in Houston that begins Saturday. The organization is being asked by some constituencies, at the eleventh hour, to back away from supporting healthcare reform.

"These bills go far beyond what is necessary to fix what is broken with our healthcare system, and they grant the federal government considerable new powers and authority, which could ultimately amount to a complete government takeover of healthcare, and which is anathema to doctors and patients," reads a resolution introduced by the American Assn. of Neurological Surgeons, the American Society of General Surgeons and the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The resolution was also supported by AMA delegations from Georgia and Washington, D.C.

Learn why these groups and many, many others support the Affordable Health Care for America Act at our clearinghouse page.

News of the Day: CNN Reports on H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave Bill

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:45:33 -0500

You're sick with H1N1 flu and even sicker over being out of work without pay. At least one U.S. Congressman wants to help with that. He's proposing emergency legislation now to grant swine flu victims five days of paid leave. How's it gonna work? CNN's Lisa Sylvester has details.

Reporter: If you come down with the flu, you are told to stay home until you get better. That's the advice of doctors, the Centers for Disease Control, even many bosses are saying stay away.

The day of being a hero by coming in sick those days are over. The message now needs to be your a hero if you're sick and you stay home so please don't come to work.

Reporter: According to the National Partnership for Women and Families, 57 million American workers have no paid sick leave. Missing work can mean a deep cut in a monthly paycheck or even possibly a pink slip. Congressman George Miller has introduced the H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave bill. The legislation would grant five days of sick leave a year if an employer directs a sick worker to stay home or go home. It would apply to companies with 15 or more employees that do not already provide that amount of sick leave. Part-time workers would also be eligible on a pro-rated basis. The emergency law would sunset after two years, but businesses would have to foot the bill. Representative Miller says it's in their interest to keep sick workers out of the workplace and away from customers.

We have thousands -- tens of thousands of workers who are working with the public every day in food service, in cafeterias, school lunch programs and airports and hospitality. Those people are generators of additional infections of H1N1 so we got to get them get home, get well, and then go back.

Reporter: According to the Centers for Disease Control, a sick worker can infect 10% of co-workers. Congressman Miller has scheduled a hearing in two weeks on the bill. The legislation will have an impact on some of the workers in the service industry, restaurant and hotel workers who may not currently have a sick leave policy. Now, we did receive a comment from the American Hotel and Lodging Association. They said that while most of their members know it is better to let sick employees go home to recover, they do see this bill as "nothing more than an excuse to force more paid leave mandates on employers in an already weak economy."

Lisa Sylvester. CNN. Washington.

As always, we would love to know what you think about this. We kind of thought it was a talker this morning. Do you actually think that Congress should pass some sort of bill that would mandate employers grant their employees emergency sick leave with direct reference to H1N1? Leave us your comments. You can go to cnn.com/heidi and leave your comments there. We, of course, will share some of them with you a little bit later on, right here in the CNN Newsroom.

Introduction of H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave Bill Garners Great Interest

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:30:00 -0500

Earlier today, Chairman Miller and Rep. Lynn Woolsey, chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, announced emergency temporary legislation today that will guarantee five paid sick days for a worker sent home or directed to stay home by their employer for a contagious illness, such as the H1N1 flu virus.

The Wall Street Journal reports, "House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller said his bill would ensure that workers wouldn't miss out on wages if they contract the illness. The employer would be required to pay for the sick leave, and there would be no cost to the taxpayer, Mr. Miller said.

The bill wouldn't oblige employers to pay for workers' time off. It would tell them that, if they intend to send employees who are ill home, they must then pay for them to have up to five days' leave.

Mr. Miller said his panel would hold a hearing on the legislation the week of Nov. 16. If the bill is successfully enacted by Congress, it would take effect 15 days after being signed into law, and expire in two years."

Explaining why this bill is needed, Contra Costa Times quotes Chairman Miller, "Sick workers advised to stay home by their employers shouldn�t have to choose between their livelihood, and their co-workers� or customer�s health. This will not only protect employees, but it will save employers money by ensuring that sick employees don�t spread infection to co-workers and customers, and will relieve the financial burden on our health system swamped by those suffering from H1N1.�

And the next steps according to Reuters are, "Miller said the committee would hold a hearing the week of November 16 and he would press to have a full vote as soon as possible.

Miller said at least 50 million American workers are not paid for time taken off sick, 'many in lower-wage jobs that have direct contact with the public such as the food-service and hospitality industry, schools and health care fields.'"

For more background on who does and doesn't get sick leave, see this post on the New York Times' Economix blog.

News of the Day: Massachusetts provides evidence that health-care reform lowers insurance premiums

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:30:00 -0500

Ezra Klein at the Washington Post passes along a new academic paper by MIT health economist Jon Gruber. Mr. Gruber has looked at the health care proposals being considered by Congress and has found that the reforms will lower insurance premiums.

One of those states is Massachusetts, which passed health-care reform similar to the one contemplated at the federal level in mid-2006. The major aspects of this reform took place in 2007, notably the introduction of large subsidies for low-income populations, a merged nongroup and small group insurance market, and a mandate on individuals to purchase health insurance. And the results have been an enormous reduction in the cost of nongroup insurance in the state: The average individual premium in the state fell from $8,537 at the end of 2006 to $5,143 in mid-2009, a 40 percent reduction, while the rest of the nation was seeing a 14 percent increase.

You can read the rest of Mr. Gruber's paper here.(MS Word document)

News of the Day: Mandates, Affordability and Immediate Benefits

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:30:00 -0500

The New York Times ran an editorial on Saturday discussing individual mandates and affordability. It covers the key areas of:

Why is a mandate necessary? [Those without coverage drive up costs for those with coverage]
Will premiums go up or down? [They would go down]
Will there be help? [Yes]
What's affordable? [The House bill provides affordability tax credits for families of 4 up to $88,000]
Has it been tried? [Yes, successfully]
Which version is more affordable? [The House bill]

See the editorial for a complete explanation of how this would work and how it would improve access to quality, stable, affordable health care.

In another column today, E.J. Dionne correctly points out that, while the mandates and subsidies don't start until 2013, there are 14 benefits that start immediately.

That's why the most important document House Democrats released when they unveiled their bill last week was a list of 14 benefits that would be created immediately.

These include insurance reforms to ban lifetime limits on coverage and an end to "rescissions," under which insurers abruptly nullify patients' policies after they file claims. One of the most popular reforms in the bill -- barring insurers from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions -- wouldn't take effect until later. So the House bill creates an interim high-risk pool to help those who need coverage in the meantime.

There are also particular benefits for Medicare recipients, including an immediate reduction in drug costs, and a very popular provision that would allow parents to keep their children on the family health plan through age 26.

Especially important are new investments in community health centers and in efforts to increase the number of primary care doctors. As millions more people get access to decent care, the system will have to provide more doctors, nurses and facilities to treat them.

"People will be excited about 2013," said Rep. George Miller, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, which shares jurisdiction on the health-care bill. "But there are enough benefits between now and then to keep them engaged and to keep them favorably disposed."

Learn more about the Affordable Health Care for America Act [H.R. 3962] and how reform will slow the growth in out-of-control costs, introduce competition into the health care marketplace to keep coverage affordable and insurers honest, protect people�s choices of doctors and health plans, and assure all Americans access to quality, stable, affordable health care.

Affordable health care for everyone

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:30:00 -0500

This morning, Rep. George Miller published an op-ed in the Vacaville Reporter about the need for affordable health care for everyone. Below it is excerpted in its entirety.

Readers of this paper will know that, for much of this year, Congress and President Obama have grappled with one of the most important and complicated issues affecting our nation's economy and our community: health insurance reform.

I am proud to announce that on Thursday we introduced revised legislation that addresses many concerns raised about reform and brings us closer than ever to delivering on the long-held promise of quality and affordable health care for each of us.

I am a principal co-author of the bill.

Since three House committees passed a bill this summer, we have worked hard to incorporate changes and improvements suggested by people from across the political spectrum. Our revised bill directly addresses the needs of American families. It will:

Not increase the deficit.

Curb out-of-control costs that are bankrupting families and employers.

Strengthen Medicare for seniors, in part by closing the prescription drug "donut hole" and by making the program sustainable for years to come.

Protect people against discriminatory insurance company practices. We eliminate so-called "pre-existing" condition denials, stop insurance companies from dropping coverage if you get sick, and establish yearly caps on what you will pay out-of-pocket.

Keep premiums affordable and insurance companies honest by ensuring competition in the health care marketplace through inclusion of a public consumer option. People in California will be able to choose from multiple private options, such as Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente and others, or choose a public plan that offers the best quality at the best price -- just as they do on Expedia.

Offer affordability credits to ensure that low-income and middle-class families can pay for coverage, and ensure that small businesses can actually help cover their employees.

One of the biggest concerns I heard throughout this process was about the bill's cost. Let me be clear: Our reforms are fully paid for and will not increase the federal deficit. In fact, our revised bill will reduce the deficit by at least $30 billion over the next 10 years.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost of our reforms at $894 billion. More than half of this cost will be offset through a combination of savings generated by making Medicare and Medi-Cal more efficient and implementing new technology, but we do not cut services for seniors or low-income individuals. We improve care for people served by these critical programs.

The rest of the bill's costs are paid for by a surcharge on the wealthiest 0.3 percent of U.S. households-- married couples earning over $1 million dollars and individuals earning more than half a million dollars annually.

For the past 70 years, Americans have battled hard for the right to quality, affordable health care. While we still have hard work ahead, next week the House will vote on our truly historic legislation and get us closer than ever to achieving what generations of Americans have been fighting for.

News of the Day: The House Health Reform Bill

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:45:00 -0500

Today's New York Times editorial, The House Health Reform Bill, is strongly in favor of the Affordable Health Care for America Act because, among other things, it would:

require insurers to allow young people through age 26 to remain on their parents� policies. It would provide immediate help to people who have been uninsured for several months or denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. It would speed elimination of a gap in drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries (the so-called doughnut hole) and would give the government power to negotiate drug prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries, a promising way to reduce costs.

The bill would take a long stride toward universal coverage while remaining fiscally responsible.

We strongly encourage you to read the entire editorial and to learn more about the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

Affordable Health Care for America Act

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:30:00 -0500

For the first time in U.S. history, all Americans would have access to quality, affordable health care under updated health insurance reform legislation passed by the House on November 7, 2009, by a vote of 220-215.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act [H.R. 3962], which blends and updates the three versions of previous bills passed by the House committees of jurisdiction in July, embodies President Obama�s key goals for health reform. It will slow the growth in out-of-control costs, introduce competition into the health care marketplace to keep coverage affordable and insurers honest, protect people�s choices of doctors and health plans, and assure all Americans access to quality, stable, affordable health care.

The key components of the Affordable health Care for America Act include:

Increasing choice and competition. The bill will protect and improve consumers� choices.

If people like their current plans, they will be able to keep them.
For individuals who aren�t currently covered by their employer, and some small businesses, the proposal will establish a new Health Insurance Exchange where consumers can comparison shop from a menu of affordable, quality health care options that will include private plans, health co-ops, and a new public health insurance option. The public health insurance option will play on a level playing field with private insurers, spurring additional competition.
This Exchange will create competition based on quality and price that leads to better coverage and care. Patients and doctors will have control over decisions about their health care, instead of insurance companies.

Giving Americans peace of mind. The legislation will ensure that Americans have portable, secure health care coverage � so that they won�t lose care if their employer drops their plan or they lose their job.

Every American who receives coverage through the Exchange will have a plan that includes standardized, comprehensive and quality health care benefits.
It will end increases in premiums or denials of care based on pre-existing conditions, race, or gender, and strictly limit age rating.
The proposal will also eliminate co-pays for preventive care, and cap out-of-pocket expensesto protects every American from bankruptcy.

Improving quality of care for every American. The legislation will ensure that Americans of all ages, from young children to retirees have access to greater quality of care by focusing on prevention, wellness, and strengthening programs that work.

Guarantees that every child in America will have health care coverage that includes dental, hearing and vision benefits.
Provides better preventive and wellness care. Every health care plan offered through the exchange and by employers after a grace period will cover preventive care at no cost to the patient.
Increases the health care workforce to ensure that more doctors and nurses are available to provide quality care as more Americans get coverage.
Strengthens Medicare and Medicaid and closes the Medicare Part D �donut hole� so that seniors and low-income Americans receive better quality of care and see lower prescription drug costs and out-of-pocket expenses.

Ensuring shared responsibility. The bill will ensure that individuals, employers, and the federal government share responsibility for a quality and affordable health care system.

Employers can continue offering coverage to workers, and those who choose not to offer coverage contribute a fee of eight percent of payroll.
All individuals will generally be required to get coverage, either through their employer or the exchange, or pay a penalty of 2.5 percent of income, subject to a hardship exemption.
The federal government will provide affordability credits, available on a sliding scale for low- and middle-income individuals and families to make premiums affordable and reduce cost-sharing.

Protecting consumers and reducing waste, fraud, and abuse. The legislation will put the interests of consumers first, protect them from problems in getting and keeping health care coverage, and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse.

Provides transparency in plans in the Health Exchange so that consumers have the clear, complete information, in plain English, needed to select the plan that best meets their needs.
Establishes consumer advocacy offices as part of the Exchange in order to protect consumers, answer questions, and assist with any problems related to their plans.
Simplifies paperwork and other administrative burdens. Patients, doctors, nurses, insurance companies, providers, and employers will all encounter a streamlined, less confusing, more consumer friendly system.
Increases funding of efforts to reduce waste, fraud and abuse; creates enhanced oversight of Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Reducing the deficit and ensuring the solvency of Medicare and Medicaid. The legislation will be entirely paid for � it will not add a dime to the deficit. It will also put Medicare and Medicaid on the path to a more fiscally sound future, so seniors and low-income Americans can continue to receive the quality health care benefits for years to come.

Pays for the entire cost of the legislation though a combination of savings achieved by making Medicare and Medicaid more efficient � without cutting seniors� benefits in any way � and revenue generated from placing a surcharge the top 0.3 percent of all households in the U.S.(married couples with adjusted gross income of over $1,000,000) and other tax measures.
The Congressional Budget estimates the bill will reduce the deficit by at least $100 billion over ten years.
Estimates also show the bill will slow the rate of growth of the Medicare program from 6.6 percent annually to 5.3 percent annually.

Additional Information:
Complete Bill Text �
Manager's Amendment �
Manager's Amendment Summary �
Top Line Changes �
Top 10 Changes to the Health Insurance Reform Bill �
Side by Side Chart of H.R. 3200 and the Affordable Health Care For America Act �
4-Page Bill Summary �
10-Page Bill Summary �
Section by Section �
What Others Are Saying: Support For Affordable Health Care For America Act �
Supporters of the Affordable Health Care for America Act �

What Health Insurance Reform Means for You �
What You Need to Know About Health Insurance Reform �
Top 10 Ways Health Insurance Reform Works for You �
Top 14 Provisions That Take Effect Immediately �
Immediate Investments on the Road to Reform �
Implementation Timeline �
Myth Vs. Fact �
The Cost of Inaction �
Health Care by the Numbers �
Impacts of Health Insurance Reform by Individual Congressional Districts �

Key Provisions:

Public Health Insurance Option �
The Health Insurance Marketplace �
Shared Responsibility �
Guaranteed Benefits �
Making Coverage Affordable �
Consumer Protections and Insurance Market Reforms �
Employers and Health Reform �
Strengthening the Nation�s Health Workforce �
Lowering Health Care Costs �
Improving Public Health �
Prevention and Wellness �
Delivery System Reforms �
Preventing Waste, Fraud and Abuse �
Strengthening Medicare �
Improving Medicare Part D Drug Program �
Closing the "Donut Hole" �
Maintaining and Improving Medicaid �
Medicare Advantage �
Paying for Reform �
Summary of Revenue Provisions �
Joint Committee on Taxation: Estimated Revenue Effects �
Health Care Surcharge and Households �
Health Care Surcharge and Small Businesses �

Women Have the Most to Gain �
Meeting Women's Health Care Needs �
Small Businesses Guide �
How Health Insurance Reform Helps Small Businesses �
A Guide for Seniors �
Young Americans �
Children �
Rural Communities �
Health Care Disparities �
Indian Health �
Personal Stories - Problems That Would Be Solved By Health Insurance Reform �

News of the Day: Early reports: Job gains signal stimulus impact

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:30:00 -0500

According to a preliminary review by the USA Today, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has created or saved more than 388,000 jobs so far this year.That number is only for jobs created directly by the stimulus package and doesn't include jobs created indirectly by workers spending their new earnings.

While jobs were created across all sectors of the economy, the USA Today highlights some jobs created in the education sector.

The states' reports suggest the biggest impact has been at schools. Twenty-three states that have reported school job numbers said more than 156,000 jobs had been created or saved.

Carol Bingham, director of fiscal policy for the California Department of Education, estimated the stimulus saved about 20,000 teaching positions. But she and others warn that precisely counting saved jobs has proved almost impossible. "It was intended to be a count. The way it was done, I think it's going to end up being an estimate," she said.

Indiana officials reported that the stimulus had created or saved about 13,000 school jobs. Asked whether he had any idea how many layoffs the plan had prevented, state Education Department spokesman Cam Savage replied: "I really don't."

Learn more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and read Chairman Miller's statement about the Administration's estimates on education jobs.