"Commonsense reforms will protect ourfamilies from dangerous and deceptive financial products and prevent taxpayersfrom paying for Wall Street's future mistakes," says SEIU's Mary Kay Henry

Washington, D.C.--The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) released thefollowing statement of President Mary Kay Henry following passage of theSenate's Wall Street reform bill:

"On Monday, I marched arm in arm through the streets of Washington with AlMarshall, a construction inspector from Oakland, California. After 12 years ofmortgage payments, Al lost the home he bought and renovated for hisfamily.  Why?  Because after Wall Street crashed the economy, hiswife lost her job, his hours were cut--and for six months, the bank wouldn'treturn his calls.

"Al was one of thousands of Americans who traveled from all over the country toWashington, D.C. this week to give voice to what too many families are facingright now.  His message? It's time for our leaders to put the needs ofAmerica's families before the demands of Wall Street CEOs. Working families andthose hit hardest by the economic collapse are counting on Washington to fixwhat's broken with our financial system now.

"Today Majority Leader Reid and the Democrats took historic action that shows thatour message was received loud and clear. Senators stood up to Wall Street CEOsand their high-priced lobbyists and passed strong Wall Street reforms essentialto rebuilding our economy. Unfortunately, the vast majority of RepublicanSenators chose to stand with the Wall Street CEOs locking our families intorecession.

"The commonsense reforms passed today will protect our families fromdangerous and deceptive financial products and prevent taxpayers from payingfor Wall Street's future mistakes.

"Working families expect the House and Senate to continue to stand up to WallStreet CEOs and their lobbyists and work together to send a strong final WallStreet reform bill to the President's desk.

"Our work to put the pieces of our shattered economy back together is far fromover. Al Marshall and working families will continue to challenge Congress topass the simple yet bold solutions we need to put Americans back to work, stopforeclosures, and save our cities and states from bankruptcy."

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With 2.2 million members in Canada, theUnited States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in theAmericas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services andproperty services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more securejobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterpartsaround the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations andCEOs--benefit from today's global economy.

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