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A number of studies released in the past two weeks underscore the urgent need facing American workers, their families and small businesses -- from rising insurance and prescription costs to lost coverage:

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation -- Barely Hanging On: Middle-Class and Uninsured

The cost of family coverage continues to skyrocket -- employees paid 81 percent more for a family insurance policy in 2008 than they did in 2000.

3 million middle-income Americans lost their employer-sponsored health insurance between 2000-2008.

An estimated 12.9 million middle-class people are uninsured -- two million MORE than were uninsured in 2000.

Today, AARP announced support for the comprehensive and historic health insurance reform legislation before Congress. AARP Board Chair Bonnie Cramer writes:

The legislative package cracks down on insurance company abuses and protects and strengthens guaranteed benefits in Medicare, the program millions of our members depend on and in which millions more will soon enroll.

It closes the dreaded Medicare Part D 'doughnut hole,' a gap in prescription drug coverage that is life-threatening for many.

The package stops insurance companies from pricing people out of coverage because they have an existing health problem or arbitrarily limiting the amount of care someone can receive.

It also limits insurance companies' ability to charge higher premiums based solely on age.

The budget resolution that Congress passed last April included instructions for the House and Senate to enact reforms to both our health insurance system and federal student loan programs through the budget reconciliation process. Now, the reconciliation bill that the House will consider this weekend includes not only improvements to the Senate-passed health insurance reform bill, but also the student aid bill the House passed last September. The student aid bill is the largest investment in aid to help students and families pay for college in history -- and at no cost to the taxpayer.

This afternoon, House Democrats introduced health insurance reform legislation to improve the Senate-passed bill. The reconciliation bill is based largely on the improvements put forward by the President's proposal -- moving towards the House-passed bill in certain critical areas. Under the legislative package the House will consider later this week (the Senate-passed health bill as amended by the reconciliation bill, many key provisions take effect this year - here are some of them:

SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDITS

As House Democrats introduced health insurance reform legislation to improve the Senate-passed bill, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, Whip Clyburn, and Caucus Chairman Larson held a press conference this afternoon in the Capitol with Americans who represent the struggles many have with our current health care system and how they will benefit from much-needed health insurance reform:

Ed Morris

"This is Nancy Pelosi's moment. There is no way for the public to know what is going on behind closed doors at the Capitol this week, or whether enough votes will emerge to enact health care reform. But if the House Speaker were Barry Bonds, this would be like a high fast ball over the plate. This is Pelosi's power zone."