On Nov. 3, farmer and Center for Rural Affairs board member Jim Knopik arrived in Washington, D.C. to tell Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) of his support for health care reform in person. Knopik joined over 100 other small business owners and self-employed people who traveled to Washington to make their support known to their members of Congress.

Jim Knopik and Rick Poore after a press conference at the Capitol. Next they went to the White House, where Rick shared his health care story with Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. (Photo by Angel Romero Keister)

“Without sufficient competition in the health insurance marketplace, we have no other options. For farmers, this is a familiar challenge. For decades we have been squeezed by corporate agribusiness. Health insurance monopolies are treating us no better,” said Knopik.

The small business owners focused on elements of health care reform crucial to small business and the self-employed, such as affordability measures, insurance reforms, and a public health insurance option as well as a national health insurance exchange to increase consumer choices and competition in the health insurance industry.

The fly-in featured several events, including a press conference at the Capitol with various legislators and a meeting at the White House with Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. Small business owners from Nebraska and North Dakota also met with Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (NE), Rep. Earl Pomeroy (ND), Sen. Kent Conrad (ND), and staff from the office of Sen. Nelson.

“For more than 50 years I have watched the population of my county decline. Where there were once 49 families within two miles of our farm, there are now only five. The remaining family farmers and Main Street businesses, the economic engine of our community, are struggling to survive. Access to affordable health care is one of the primary causes of their struggle. Without affordable health care, farmers, ranchers and small business owners cannot survive,” said Knopik.

Shortly after returning to Nebraska, the Center for Rural Affairs released a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi endorsing the House health care reform legislation (Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962) and encouraging representatives to vote for passage of that legislation.

Contact: Steph Larsen, StephL@cfra.org or 402.687.2103 x 1014 for more information on this event.