WHEREAS, the number of people without health insurance coverage increased by 1.3 million to 46.6 million - 15.9 percent of the population - between 2004 and 2005; and

WHEREAS, the percentage of people covered by employment-based health insurance declined slightly - from 59.8 percent to 59.5 percent - between 2004 and 2005, while the percentage of people covered by government health insurance remained at 27.3 percent during the same period; and

WHEREAS, the number of uninsured children increased by 400,000 to 8.3 million from 2004 to 2005; and

WHEREAS, if one breadwinner in a middle class family has significant medical bills due to lack of health insurance, that family is at high risk of slipping into poverty, thus making many middle class families one accident or illness away from a catastrophe,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors calls for the repair of the nation's health insurance system so that all Americans have access to affordable, quality health care.