AARP members urge Congress members from Illinois to speed up health care reforms

With Congressional summer recess winding down and members of Congress home for just a few more days, AARP members in Illinois are taking to the streets to make sure they don't get a break from health care reform.

Across the state, with a giant inflatable Rx bottle as a backdrop, AARP members are sending a "message in a bottle" to Illinois members of Congress, delivering thousands of prescription bottles filled with constituents' health care stories along with a strong message: Health Care Reform Now!

Holding "Rx for health care reform" press conferences throughout the state, hosting community events and forums aimed at debunking the health care reform myths and helping the public to get the facts on the issue, AARP members are urging Congress to tackle the issue when they return to Washington later this month.

"Congress is getting ready to head back to the nation's Capitol and we're working to be sure they do so with this simple message in mind: fix what's wrong with our health care system, and preserve what's right," said Bob Gallo, State Director for AARP in Illinois. "Health care reform cannot wait for those millions of Americans struggling with a broken system everyday."

AARP is taking aim at the myths, misinformation and scare tactics being used to derail the health care reform debate and has set up a Web site (www.healthactionnow.org) where the public can get the facts and up-to-date information on the issue.