Congressman Hodes Praises Senate Passage of Michelle’s Law

For Immediate Release

September 25, 2008

Contact:        Mark Bergman

                202-225-5206

Congressman Hodes Praises Senate Passage of Michelle’s Law

Washington, DC--- Congressman Paul Hodes praised Senate passage of HR 2851 “Michelle’s Law” by unanimous consent. The bill would allow seriously ill or injured college students to take up to one year of medical leave without losing their health insurance.  The measure now goes to President Bush for his approval.

Michelle's Law is inspired by life and the memory of Michelle Morse. Michelle was a full time college student at Plymouth State University when she was diagnosed with colon cancer. Her doctors advised her to cut back on her course load while undergoing chemotherapy, but she could not because she would lose her family's health insurance when she needed it most. Michelle died as she struggled to regain her health while going to school full-time.

"Today is a victory for families across America who are worried about keeping their children healthy," Congressman Hodes said. "No family should ever have to face the choice the Morse family did and I was so proud to have fought alongside Anne Marie to pass this important legislation. I urge President Bush to sign this into law so no family will ever have to make the terrible decision that Michelle's family faced.  I'm proud to have stood with Anne Marie and her fight to honor Michelle Morse's memory." 

“Michelle Morse is the real hero,” Anne Marie Morse, mother of Michelle Morse said. “Five years ago, I never dreamed we would be in this situation. The best case scenario will be that no college student will ever have to use this law but now the protection is there for everyone.”

“Far too many seriously ill college students are forced to make an incredibly difficult and unfair choice between education and well-being,” said Daniel E. Smith, president, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).   “This bill will help preserve health insurance coverage for these students so they can focus on their treatment without the added burden of a full-time course load."

"We applaud Representative Hodes for his leadership on this bipartisan legislation to preserve the continuity of care for college students who are forced to leave school for medical reasons,” said Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans.