Obama: Need for health care reform is urgent

President Barack Obama continued his push for health care reform Tuesday, hoping to pass legislation before Congress goes on summer vacation next month.
The proposal would require all Americans to have health insurance and all employers to provide it. Low-income residents would get money toward insurance and health insurance companies would not be permitted to deny coverage based on a person's pre-existing health conditions.
The bill would raise taxes on Americans who earn more than $250,000 a year in order to pay for the inclusive health care. Local health advocates, like Nisha Agarwal of Bronx Health Reach, say the disparity in health care between the rich and poor is so great, the new reforms would benefit many New York City residents.
AP wires contributed to this article.