The bishops asked for changes in proposed bills in the House of Representatives and Senate. The current bills, they said, "leave between 18 and 23 million people in our nation without health insurance

The U.S. bishops called on Congress to continue to work on health care reform to provide access for everyone, protection of life at all stages and conscience rights.

The call came in a January 26 letter signed by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston- Houston, chair of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities; Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, chair of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; and Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City, chair of the Committee on Migration.

The entire letter can be found at http://www.usccb.org/healthcare/HC-Letter-to-Congress-012610.pdf

The bishops said that the need for reform remains despite a new political climate.

"Although political contexts have changed, the moral and policy failure that leaves tens of millions of our sisters and brothers without access to health care still remains," they said. "We encourage Congress to begin working in a bipartisan manner providing political courage, vision and leadership. We must all continue to work towards a solution that protects everyone's lives and respects their dignity."

The bishops asked for changes in proposed bills in the House of Representatives and Senate. The current bills, they said, "leave between 18 and 23 million people in our nation without health insurance."

They criticized the Senate bill saying it does not meet the church's criteria on life and conscience since it does not reflect the current U.S. policy as outlined in the Hyde Amendment passed in 1976.

"The bill's provision against abortion funding should have the same substantive policy as the Hyde Amendment and parallel provisions in current law, should cover every program in the legislation and should be as permanent as the funding provided by the bill. The House-passed language meets these criteria," they said.

Both bills are a step backwards in conscience protection, the bishops said.

"The freedom that insurers, purchasers, and sponsors currently enjoy under federal law to offer or purchase health plans that are not morally or religiously objectionable to them would be lost," they said.

"It is critical that the final bill retain the freedom of conscience that insurers, purchasers, plan sponsors, and health care providers currently have under federal law," they added.

The bishops urged that undocumented persons be able to purchase insurance in the new health care exchange with their own money. They also called for removal of the five-year ban on legal immigrants accessing health care plans such as Medicaid.

Keywords: Health care reform, abortion, conscience protections, affordability, undocument, immigrants, Hyde Amendment, Bishop John Wester, Bishop William Murphy, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

CONTACT: Sr. Mary Ann Walsh of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops,+1-202-541-3200, +1-301-587-4762

Web site: http://www.usccb.org/

A short form prospectus relating to the securities has been filed with Canadian securities authorities, and a registration statement containing, in part, the short form prospectus has been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective

Alexco Resource Corp. ("Alexco" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that in connection with its overnight marketed public offering previously announced on January 19, 2010 (the "Offering"), it has entered into an underwriting agreement with Canaccord Financial Ltd. and Cormark Securities Inc. (the "Underwriters") to sell 7,350, 000 common shares in the Company ("Common Shares") at a price of C$3.50 per Common Share to raise gross proceeds of C$25,725,000 pursuant to a short form prospectus under the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system. In addition, the Company has granted the Underwriters an over-allotment option to purchase up to that number of additional Common Shares equal to 15% of the Common Shares sold pursuant to the Offering, exercisable at any time up to 30 days from the closing of the Offering.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering at the Bellekeno mine which it's currently developing, for construction backstop finance to mitigate capital cost overrun risk and for the mine's initial working capital finance, and to further explore and develop the Company's other properties located in the Keno Hill silver district in Canada's Yukon Territory.

The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about February 15, 2010 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE-AMEX, and the securities regulatory authorities.

A short form prospectus relating to the securities has been filed with Canadian securities authorities, and a registration statement containing, in part, the short form prospectus has been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective.

A copy of the short form prospectus relating to the Common Shares as filed in Canada and as filed in the registration statement in the United States may be obtained upon request by contacting: Canaccord Financial Ltd., 3000 - 161 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5J 2S1 (tel: 416-869-7368), or Cormark Securities Inc., 2800 - 200 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5J 2J2 (tel: 416-362-7485).

About Alexco

Alexco's business is to unlock value and manage risk at mature, closed or abandoned mine sites through integration and implementation of the Company's core competencies which include management of environmental services, execution of mine reclamation and closure operations and if appropriate, rejuvenation of exploration and development of new mining opportunities.

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information concerning the Corporation's anticipated results and developments in the Corporation's operations in future periods, planned exploration and development of its properties, plans related to its business and other matters that may occur in the future, made as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the anticipated closing of the offering, the intended use of proceeds from the offering, future remediation and reclamation activities, future mineral exploration, the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the realization of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, the timing of activities and the amount of estimated revenues and expenses, the success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, requirements for additional capital and sources and uses of funds. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the offering not closing, including risks in obtaining regulatory approval and market risks; risks related to actual results of exploration activities; actual results of remediation and reclamation activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of gold, silver and other commodities; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; and delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of development activities.

Alexco Resource Corp.

CONTACT: Clynton R. Nauman, President and Chief Executive Officer ofAlexco, by telephone at (604) 633-4888 or by email toinfo@alexcoresource.com