For Immediate Release
January 20, 2021
Contact: Brian Reardon

Statement by Sr. Mary Haddad, RSM, President and CEO, Catholic Health Association of the United States

WASHINGTON, DC – “The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) extends our congratulations to President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States and to Vice President Kamala Harris on her historic inauguration as the first woman and first woman of color to serve as the 49th Vice President of the United States. We look forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration and congressional leaders on strengthening our nation’s health care system and unifying our country in efforts to address the unprecedented public health and economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“As our country mourns the over 400,000 lives lost to COVID-19, the pandemic continues to place extraordinary pressure on families and communities across the country. Catholic health providers are working daily to meet their needs during these unprecedented times. President-elect Biden’s American Rescue Plan is an encouraging first step for a highly coordinated federal response to bring the virus under control and stabilize our nation’s health care delivery system, while providing necessary support to vulnerable individuals and families. We are pleased that this plan would offer additional support and resources for frontline workers in hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities to protect patients and the communities they serve; provide for outreach and access to COVID-19 vaccines for all communities; expand coverage options for the uninsured and extend unemployment support; and provide vital funding for important social safety net programs that address food insecurity, housing and child care.

“CHA looks forward to working with the administration and congressional leaders to provide additional COVID-19 relief as well as addressing the other challenging issues facing our country and communities—accessible and affordable health care, racial justice and health equity, and a reliable health and social safety net for our most vulnerable seniors, low income families and individuals.”

» Download a PDF of the statement

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The Catholic Health Association of the United States is the national leadership organization of the Catholic health ministry, representing the largest nonprofit provider of health care services in the nation.

• 1 in 7 patients in the U.S. is cared for in a Catholic hospital each day.
• Catholic health care, which includes more than 2,200 hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, systems, sponsors, and related organizations, serves the full continuum of health care across our nation.