Support HR 676

HR 676 (like Social Security and Medicare) is a single - payer plan which would provide health care to every person residing In the U.S. HR 676 would allow patients their choice of doctors whose traditional fees for service would be paid for by the government. It is entitled: "The United States National Health Insurance Act," ("Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act").

HR 676, introduced by Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), now has 78 co-signers. This single-payer health care program proposes an effective mechanism for controlling skyrocketing health costs while covering all 46.5 million uninsured Americans and improving health care for everyone.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U.S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMO s, as well as excessive and unnecessary billing expenses of hospitals and doctors' offices.

In country after country, Labor took the lead in championing universal health insurance. Unions here in the United States need to do the same. Labor's participation is essential for achieving health care reform.

As of November 29, 2006, HR 676 is listed as being endorsed by 212 union organizations including 53 Central Labor Councils and area Labor Federations and 15 state AFL-CIO's (KY, PA, CT, OH, DE, ND, WA, SC, WY, VT, FL, WI, WV, SD, & NC).

HR 676 envisions everybody in & nobody out. Similarly and ideally, HR 676 will be achieved much sooner if everybody joins in the effort to ratchet up the pressure on Congress to pass this vital legislation. Congress will listen when the people roar. Congress will act when the people roar louder.

A wave of revulsion against the war and occupation of Iraq rippled the political waters recently, resulting in majority leadership changes in both houses of Congress. Hopes are high that resulting policy changes will reflect the peoples' wishes and needs. Constant vigilance and unrelenting, massive pressure will speed Congressional compliance. While politicians, generally, tend to follow the money and legislate accordingly; they are keenly aware that their bread is buttered in the voting booth.

The ball is in the peoples' court. The fate of HR 676 - national health insurance (Medicare for All) is in our hands. We the people everywhere should feel obliged to urge all members of Congress, state legislative bodies and city councils to sign on to effect passage of HR 676 as quickly as possible. Local unions and their Internationals, community, faith and organizations of all sorts should be urged to do the same. Demanding support for HR 676 is in order right now. Contact your representatives and ask them to support this resolution.