America's Agenda to Honor Former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt at Democratic National Convention

America's Agenda to Launch Summit Conversations Series

Washington, D.C. – America's Agenda: Health Care for All will be honoring Rep. Richard "Dick" Gephardt, former U.S. House majority leader, for his leadership and commitment to affordable health care for every American at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. In the spirit of “health care for all Americans," America's Agenda will also be launching its new Summit Conversations Series on “American Health Care in the 21st Century."

The Summit Conversations will begin immediately after the November general election, and will feature a series of high-profile dialogues on the future of American health care envisioned by America's leaders in business, labor, government and the health care sector.

"This issue is not just about how to cover the uninsured," said Dick Gephardt. "It is much more about how do we hold down on health care costs for every American."

The Summit Conversations will explore reveal the true range of convergence in our leaders' visions for America's health care future. The elements of consensus that are articulated will be critically important guides and motivators for federal and state policy makers, who, under the next administration, are likely to shape the direction of American health care in our new century.

"Our country's ability to solve its health care crisis depends, to no small extent, on whether our political and private sector leaders can articulate a shared vision of the kind of health care system that will meet the needs of Americans in the 21st Century," said America's Agenda President Douglas Dority.

"There are indications that the elements of such a vision may be finally emerging," Dority continued. "Such a shared vision would have powerful potential to drive enactment and implementation of the health care reform Americans need and deserve."

America's Agenda: Health Care for All brings together national and international labor unions, businesses, and government leaders who share a common commitment to winning guaranteed access to affordable, high quality health care for every American. They have an unrivaled record of building and strengthening comprehensive health care reform campaigns in states across the country. As Americans look to new leadership in Washington, America's Agenda's state-by-state efforts are providing important templates for federal legislation – and accelerating the political momentum needed to win it.