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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Many of you across East Alabama may have heard of a man named Kenny Callahan.
Kenny, who was from Calhoun County, was just an exceptionally good guy who worked a couple of jobs, but spent the majority of his days covering the news in the Calhoun County area.
Kenny spent endless hours at countless events to capture video and interviews that were most important to his neighbors.
On New Years Eve of 2008, I heard Kenny was sick – he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given only a few short months to live.
He died in January 2009. Kenny left behind his wife, Linda, along with a pile of bills because his sickness had kept him from working.
Due to the current structure of Social Security and Medicare, Kenny wasn’t able to receive Social Security benefits. To be eligible, he would have to wait 24 months for Medicare and five months for Social Security.
Kenny didn’t have that kind of time. The last thing he wanted to do was to spend his numbered days with his wife worrying about finances.
This week, a press conference was held at Regional Medical Center in Anniston to announce legislation I recently introduced, the Kenny Callahan Act. This bill was named in memory of my friend, Kenny, in hopes it will start a conversation in Washington about eliminating the wait time for folks on Medicare and Social Security benefits when they are diagnosed with a terminal illness.
As many of us in East Alabama are aware, Congress is debating health care reform proposals. I have heard that some Members of Congress are also working to remove the waiting period for Medicare and Social Security disability benefits for everyone who applies and are approved.
I applaud these efforts and hope we can work together to remove these waiting periods for people like Kenny, but especially and at a minimum for those in our communities who are facing the end of life the soonest.
On Wednesday, June 17th, I also met with a liaison from the White House to discuss the importance of this bill. My hope is it will help start a compassionate conversation about our quality of life as a nation, especially for those soon facing the end of theirs.
As Congress discusses health care reform, I plan to listen to ideas on both sides of the aisle and work for realistic solutions with practical price tags.
This bill, for one, is well worth its cost. Congress should pass it for Kenny, and help all folks in his situation before it is too late.
To see the press conference, go to www.YouTube.com/MikeRogersAL03. As always, please contact me on this or any issue at www.house.gov/mike-rogers or follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RepMikeRogersAL. |
