Los Angeles, CA--Congresswoman Diane E. Watson (D-CA) hosted the first of two town hall meetings on the Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 legislation which is currently under consideration in Congress. The telephone town hall for constituents of the 33rd Congressional District of California took place on Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 7 p.m. and had about 5,000 participants.

“I am pleased to say that our first town hall information session and discussion on health care was very informative. We decided to host our first discussion by telephone to reach as many constituents in the 33rd Congressional District as possible. We were able to reach those who could not travel to a central location to participate in a live discussion. By using the telephone town hall format, we provided a forum for about 5,000 people to participate in an interactve discussion that affects everyone,” said Rep. Watson.

Representative Watson invited Jeannine English, the California State President of the American Association of Retired People (AARP), to participate in the interactive discussion. “I invited nonpartisan experts from AARP to participate in our telephone town hall meeting to meet the needs of an important group in my district and around the country. Those who are 50 and older were also able to ask specific health care questions pertinent to their concerns that were answered by the AARP California State President," said Rep. Watson. "I was pleased to have so many constituents participate in the town hall discussion who were able to express their support, thoughts and concerns on this important issue."

The next town hall forum on health care reform is scheduled for Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 6:30 pm. Please contact the 33rd District office for the location of the August 27th live town hall information sesson.