Dodd Says HELP to Unveil Health Care Bill Tuesday
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) announced during a Tuesday morning news conference that the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee would unveil the full text of its health care reform bill later in the afternoon.Dodd, the No. 2 Democrat on HELP, has been pinch-hitting for Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), who has been absent from the Senate as he battles brain cancer. Dodd said the markup of the health reform bill is scheduled to begin June 16.“This is the single most important issue we have to grapple with,— Dodd said.The HELP bill will merge with legislation being written simultaneously by the Senate Finance Committee. The full Senate is hoping to pass a health care package before it adjourns for the August recess.