Washington, DC-- SEIU Member and Montana homecare worker Patricia DeJong today stood with Democratic Senators Dodd, Harkin and Mikulski at a press conference on Capitol Hill today to share how The Affordable Health Choices Act passed yesterday by the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee will help hardworking Americans like her:

My name is Patricia DeJong. I am a homecare worker providing the care that my neighbors need in a surrounding that is affordable and allows them to continue to live the life they choose. But I have no health insurance myself.

"I had a calling to be here. You see, my husband and I had a cattle ranch in northwestern Montana, Lincoln County to be specific. My husband, Dan, was diagnosed with cancer, and very quickly the medical bills piled up. But filing for bankruptcy was not an option for Dan and me so we made the very tough and heartbreaking decision to sell our ranch, which had been in the family for four generations. It broke Dan's spirit to see that beloved ranch go, the place of his youth and our children's youth. The medical bills were paid, but Dan died paying those bills because of what it did to him.

"His spirit now resides in me and we will win this battle for healthcare reform for the millions upon millions who don't have insurance.

"This legislation makes healthcare affordable so families like mine won't worry about losing their homes, ranches, farm or having to file for bankruptcy. What was passed by the HELP Committee will generate affordable coverage when I need it. The "Exchange" will help make purchasing coverage easier for not just me but for millions of people who don't have healthcare but work hard everyday to provide for their families and their communities.

"No one should ever worry about losing their home due to medical bills. I thank the members of the HELP Committee for their courage, their conviction and their vision of reform to provide security for all Americans. Thank you."

With 2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.

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