Bush Administration Ignores 44 Million Uninsured in U.S as it Awards Contract for Universal Health Care in Iraq

Washington, DC - On the day that the Bush Administration awarded a contract to Abt Associates to provide universal health service to 25 million Iraqis within a year, U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO), John D. Dingell (D-MI), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) called on President Bush to provide the same commitment to the 44 million Americans without health care coverage.

The contract by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) seeks to “help facilitate rapid, universal health service delivery to the Iraqi population” including “basic health care available to 12.5 million persons” after six months and “25 million persons” after one year of program implementation. The Administration also requires all 25 million Iraqis to have maternal, child health care, and health information and education after six months of program implementation.