You’re the reason we’ve come so far,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), told advocacy groups supporting reform at a press conference in the capitol today. DeAnn Friedholm, director of Consumers Union’s healthcare reform campaign, was there representing CU, which has endorsed the House bill and supports passage of the Senate bill. “You never let us forget this fight isn’t about politics, it isn’t about partisanship,  it’s about people--real people,” said Reid.

Also joining Senator Reid, were Senators Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), and leaders and activists from more than 15 other groups, including Doctors for America, Small Business Majority, U.S. Public Interest Research Groups, Families USA, National Puerto Rican Coalition, Community Catalyst, Japanese Americans Citizen League, American Association of People with Disabilities, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, AARP, American Heart Association, National Jewish Democratic Council and others. Yesterday the American Medical Association endorsed the Senate bill.

But while all of these groups support passage of the Senate bill, many are also working for improvements during the conference committee, the process that combines the House and Senate versions. “There’s a lot to like about the Senate bill,” said Friedholm. “But there are some things that are better in the House bill. If we can convince the conferees to combine the best elements of the House bill with the best of the Senate bill we will have health reform that helps consumers access more affordable, higher quality and safer care.”