Health Care Message from Senator Vitter

The following letter concerning health care reform was sent out from Senator David Vitter:

As the Senate continues to debate a massive and  sweeping health care bill, I
continue to push for alternatives that would bring  about real change for so many
Americans.

This week I introduced an amendment to the Senate  health care bill that would take
money out of the proposed government-run  health care program and instead direct it
to proven programs that have an  ability to positively impact so many families –
school-based health centers,  maternal and child health services, and cancer
research and treatment programs.

Instead of creating a massive new government  health care program, we can increase
access to primary and preventive care for  children by increasing the funding to put
health facilities and equipment in  our schools.

Instead of putting a government bureaucrat  between doctors and their patients, we
can increase the ability of states to  provide vital immunizations and newborn
screening tests, reduce infant  mortalities, and improve prenatal and postnatal care
for mothers by providing  more grant resources to the Maternal and Child Health
Block Services Program.

And instead of resorting to the European style  of health care with its higher
waiting times for treatment and higher cancer  mortaility rates, we can improve our
ability to fight cancer and continue our  success rates in battling the disease by
giving additional funding to the  National Cancer Institute.

My amendment would accomplish all of these  goals, and as the Senate continues to
debate health care reform, I’ll continue  to push for these and other reforms that
will positively benefit Louisianians.

Sincerely,

David Vitter
U.S.  Senator