Kerry and Edwards Highlight Health Care Plan on Journey to Boston

Cape Canaveral, FL – Continuing to highlight the American spirit and values that built this country on their trip to Boston and the Democratic National Convention, John Edwards and John Kerry Monday focused on their plan for America’s future and their commitment to using our country’s sense of discovery and innovation to make us stronger at home by ensuring health care is affordable and accessible for all Americans.

At separate stops, Kerry and Edwards campaigned in cities that symbolize America’s commitment to science, innovation and technology, Cape Canaveral, FL, home of the Kennedy Space Center, and Raleigh, NC, part of North Carolina’s Research Triangle. The stops marked Kerry and Edwards fourth day blazing America’s Freedom Trial to Boston.

“Americans have always come together to reach for distant horizons,” Kerry said during his visit to the space center. “Our spirit of discovery has always united us – from Lewis and Clark’s expedition to landing on the moon. That same spirit is what makes America strong. And it’s what has always made America a leader in the world. We need to harness that spirit of discovery and innovation to build a stronger America.”

From launching people into space to discovering new cures for the deadliest diseases, America has always pushed the boundaries of science to use America’s can-do spirit to make us stronger at home. While the Bush administration has threatened our leadership in innovation and put ideology ahead of sound science, Kerry and Edwards’ plan for America’s future will once again ignite our country’s sense of discovery and innovation to ensure high-quality health care for all Americans.

“We need to modernize our health care system and push the boundaries of medical exploration,” Kerry said. “We can use technology and the promise of discovery to strengthen our health care system and help millions of Americans.”

While ensuring ethical oversight, Kerry and Edwards will lift the ban on stem cell research and unleash its promise for the millions of children and adults who suffer from incurable diseases like diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, cancer and spinal cord injuries. They will also use science and technology to cut health care costs and improve technology – including encouraging the use of modern technology to eliminate waste and costly paper work from our health care system.

Kerry and Edwards will encourage discoveries in health care by increasing research investments in agencies such as the National Science Foundation and National Institute of Health. Overall, they will restore honesty and integrity to science policy in the White House, making decisions based on fact and not ideology.

“As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, we always remember that it was Neil Armstrong who walked on the moon,” Kerry said. “But we must never forget the American spirit of discovery and innovation that led us there.”

Kerry and Edwards are blazing America’s Freedom Trail to the Democratic National Convention. Stopping in cities and towns that symbolize America’s spirit and values, they are highlighting their commitment to stand up for middle-class values and build an America that is stronger at home and respected in the world on their way to accepting their party’s nominations.

They kicked off the tour Friday in Aurora, CO, Kerry’s birthplace. After stopping in Sioux City, IA, Columbus, OH and Cape Canaveral, FL, Kerry will stop in Norfolk, VA, Philadelphia, PA and Boston, MA.