SCORE in White House briefing on health care reform

WASHINGTON, DC: At the invitation of the White House Office of Public Engagement, representatives of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE) participated in a health care reform briefing held on July 2.

The intimate roundtable meeting featured remarks by Nancy Ann DeParle, head of the White House Office of Health Reform, and by Tina Tchen, director of White House Office of Public Liaison.  Joshua DuBois, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, op ened the proceedings. 

SCORE and others from the interfaith community were thanked for their service towards the common good.   The White House contingent asked for SCORE's assistance in two regards: first, to listen to concerns on health care reform from its membership, and second, to relay these concerns directly to members of Congress. 

Following comments from the government officials, the participants took part in an open discussion on the relationship between health care reform and the interfaith groups.  one religious dignitary spoke of the moral basis for his group's involvement in the health care issues.  Others expressed their hope that whatever final form that the health care legislation takes, it must ensure that the least advantaged in the society are helped. 

SCORE agreed to the White House's call to serve as a conduit of reliable information to and from the Sikh community. Parminder Singh and Dawinder S. Sidhu participated on behalf of SCORE.