Anna Burger and Teri Murphys' Speeches Before the Democratic National Convention, Thursday, July 29, 2004

/EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UPON DELIVERY OF SPEECH, SCHEDULED FOR 5:19 P.M. EDT TODAY, JULY 29/

BOSTON, July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of speeches by Anna Burger and Teri Murphy before the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, July 29, 2004:

Burger:  Hello. I'm Anna Burger, Secretary-Treasurer of the Service Employees International Union, and I'm here today with Teri Murphy, a nurse and SEIU member from Dubuque, Iowa.  As the largest union of health care workers in this country, SEIU is working every day to make sure that John Kerry is our next president.

Our 1.6 million members are on the front lines of the health care crisis, and they've lived with four years of policies that have made it worse and are hurt our working families.  Forty-four million Americans go without health care every day -- as many as the total populations of California, New York, and Texas combined.

And millions more have insurance plans that offer little to no coverage. Nurses -- like Teri -- and other health care voters are speaking out and following candidates on the campaign trail.  And today more than 250,000 others have joined them, demanding a resolution to the health care crisis.

Murphy: I'm an ER nurse from Dubuque, Iowa with 20 years of experience. I've watched my patients suffer as they've faced skyrocketing health care costs or have lost their coverage altogether.  As a member of SEIU, I've met with candidates and let them know that this is the number one issue affecting my family and my patients.  I won't rest until John Kerry is my President.

Burger: Last month, thousands of working families turned out at events in all 50 states to bridge the gap for quality, affordable health care for all. Tonight, we're kicking off a campaign that will generate thousands of faxes to the White House, calling on George Bush to offer a plan that will ensure every man, woman, and child in America has the health care they need.

But, no amount of faxes will make George Bush to do the right thing.  You too can become a health care voter and join this campaign.  When John Kerry is elected president we will work from Election Day to Inauguration Day, we will hold town hall meetings across the country to build the grassroots support to ensure that his plan is passed by Congress.

With your help, and John Kerry in the White House, together we will create a health care system that puts people over profits.  With your help, we will ensure that the first thing a doctor asks is where does it hurt, instead of where is your insurance card.

Stand with us as we make sure that the health care candidate wins this November.  Stand with us as we send this administration packing and put John Kerry in the White House.  Stand with us.

Source: Democratic National Convention Committee

CONTACT:  Peggy Wilhide of the Democratic National Convention Committee,
+1-617-366-3100

Web site:  http://www.dems2004.org/