Business Roundtable Statement on Health Reform Bill Signing Ceremony

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

“Health care in America is too costly – for individuals, for employers and for our country. It is the number one cost pressure facing our members, who provide coverage to more than 35 million Americans, which is why we have been at the table since day one advocating for effective systemic reform.

“Today’s bill signing is just the first step in reforming our nation’s health care system. There remain many challenges ahead as we work to create greater efficiencies and capture savings. The success of this reform will be based on allowing private market innovation and creating non-excessive, smart regulation.

“As large employers, we will continue working to provide affordable, quality health care to our employees, bring the power of innovation to bear on the system, and make sure we slow the rate of health care cost inflation," said John J. Castellani, President of Business Roundtable.

Business Roundtable is an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies with nearly $6 trillion in annual revenues and more than 12 million employees. Member companies comprise nearly a third of the total value of the U.S. stock markets and pay more than 60 percent of all corporate income taxes paid to the federal government. Annually, they return more than $167 billion in dividends to shareholders and the economy.

Business Roundtable companies give more than $7 billion a year in combined charitable contributions, representing nearly 60 percent of total corporate giving. They are technology innovation leaders, with more than $111 billion in annual research and development spending – nearly half of all total private R&D spending in the U.S.

Business Roundtable companies provide health care coverage to more than 35 million employees, retirees, and their families.

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