For Immediate Release
Contact: Liza Andrews, Public Policy Director
90 Brainard Road, Suite 201 | Hartford, CT 06114
860-525-5080 | landrews@ctnonprofits.org
(Hartford – October 27, 2009) Today, Ron Cretaro, Executive Director of Connecticut Association of Nonprofits applauded U.S. Representative Joe Courtney of Vernon for being among the 44 Members of Congress who stood up for the millions of people employed by America’s nonprofits. On Friday, Congressional delegates sent a letter urging House leaders to include nonprofit employers in the final House health care reform bill. Unless Congress acts, thousands of Connecticut residents employed by local nonprofits will be left without the protections that national health care reform will provide to employees of for-profit businesses.
The letter, signed by 44 members of Congress from 22 states to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, underscored the fact that the vast majority of nonprofits are small employers experiencing the same unsustainable increases in insurance premiums that small for-profit businesses experience. The letter pointed out that “none of the current House bills extend reforms and benefits to the nonprofit sector. As written, the tax credit provisions included by the House to address the needs of small, for-profit business would not be available to small nonprofit employers.”
Rep. Courtney, a respected champion of nonprofits, explained his reason for supporting this effort: “Connecticut’s nonprofit organizations play a significant role in our region’s economy and provide support and advocacy for many worthwhile causes. I support health care reform to create a system that is more efficient, affordable, and accessible, but excluding the fourth largest sector of the American workforce is antithetical to that effort. I am pleased to join my colleagues in Congress in fighting for our nation’s nonprofits and will continue to urge their inclusion in health care reform.”
In commenting on this positive development, Cretaro articulated that “Nonprofits across Connecticut thank Rep. Courtney for his important leadership in stepping forward at this time. His action might make sure that the vital nonprofits employers in Connecticut are not forgotten when Congress takes action on health care. We hope that the White House will now step forward to join this growing chorus in the House and Senate to recognize that nonprofits are vital employers who cannot be left behind on health care reform.”
Tim Delaney, President & CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, underscored the concerns of America’s nonprofits: “Every dollar nonprofit employers pay in higher insurance premiums is another dollar taken away from delivering essential food, shelter, clothing, and other vital services that people need in this devastating economy. Individuals employed by nonprofits should not be penalized because they work for public good rather than private gain.”
Cretaro indicated that the Connecticut Association of Nonprofits will continue to work through its national organization, the National Council of Nonprofits, and the broad coalition of nonprofits that has been working with the House and Senate to incorporate provisions in the health care reform bills that would treat small nonprofit employers and for-profit business employers with parity.
