WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Two top U.S. senators assured President Barack Obama on Thursday that Congress will act on a major healthcare overhaul this year despite delays over Tom Daschle's decision to step aside as Obama's health care chief.
In a letter to Obama, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and Health Education and Labor Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy said they were saddened by former Senate Democratic leader Daschle's decision to withdraw his nomination as secretary of health and human services due to tax problems.
Obama is considering a number of candidates to replace Daschle, who was to be both the secretary of health and human services and a special White House health care office.
'We are writing to affirm our continuing commitment to enacting comprehensive health care reform this year, and to express our confidence that you will swiftly choose an exceptionally qualified and dedicated alternate nominee for secretary of health and human services to assist in our efforts,' the two Democratic senators wrote.
Daschle's withdrawal and White House and congressional preoccupation with the financial crisis and efforts to jump start the stalled economy have raised questions about whether Obama would have to delay his promised plan to revamp the $2.3 trillion U.S. healthcare system.
'We have a moral duty to ensure that every American can get quality health care,' wrote Baucus of Montana and Kennedy of Massachusetts. They will lead the effort in the Senate and their committees have already started laying the groundwork for legislation.
'Incremental efforts will no longer suffice and we cannot afford to wait any longer,' they added. 'With your continued leadership and commitment, we remain certain that our goal of enacting comprehensive health care reform can be accomplished this year.'
(Editing by Cynthia Osterman) Keywords: CONGRESS HEALTHCARE (Donna.M.Smith@ThomsonReuters.com;Reuters Messaging: donna.smith.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
In a letter to Obama, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and Health Education and Labor Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy said they were saddened by former Senate Democratic leader Daschle's decision to withdraw his nomination as secretary of health and human services due to tax problems.
Obama is considering a number of candidates to replace Daschle, who was to be both the secretary of health and human services and a special White House health care office.
'We are writing to affirm our continuing commitment to enacting comprehensive health care reform this year, and to express our confidence that you will swiftly choose an exceptionally qualified and dedicated alternate nominee for secretary of health and human services to assist in our efforts,' the two Democratic senators wrote.
Daschle's withdrawal and White House and congressional preoccupation with the financial crisis and efforts to jump start the stalled economy have raised questions about whether Obama would have to delay his promised plan to revamp the $2.3 trillion U.S. healthcare system.
'We have a moral duty to ensure that every American can get quality health care,' wrote Baucus of Montana and Kennedy of Massachusetts. They will lead the effort in the Senate and their committees have already started laying the groundwork for legislation.
'Incremental efforts will no longer suffice and we cannot afford to wait any longer,' they added. 'With your continued leadership and commitment, we remain certain that our goal of enacting comprehensive health care reform can be accomplished this year.'
(Editing by Cynthia Osterman) Keywords: CONGRESS HEALTHCARE (Donna.M.Smith@ThomsonReuters.com;Reuters Messaging: donna.smith.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.