Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Action Alert: Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act & Single Payer Health Care

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From: the NOW National Action Center

We know that NOW leaders and supporters across this country have been working hard for many years to pass two important pieces of legislation. This week we have a chance to pass the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act and to raise our collective voices in support of Single Payer Health Care legislation. Please make these calls today.

Urgent: Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act

We need your help NOW more than ever to pass the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA). Senator Leahy to offered the HCPA as an amendment to S. 1391, the FY 2010 Department of Defense Authorization bill today. Remember, the U.S. House passed this critical legislation and now we have to fight for passage in the U.S. Senate.

NOW is the time for action to help secure Senate approval.

Call today! Call your Senators at 202-224-3121 and ask them to pass the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Urgent: Single Payer on the Table in Energy and Commerce on Thursday

This Thursday, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) will introduce, in the Energy and Commerce Committee, an amendment that abolishes private insurance and creates a national single-payer system that would cover everyone. This amendment would substitute Rep. John Conyers' (D-MI) single-payer bill, HR 676, for the current Tri-Committee Health Reform Bill.

Call your U.S. House member and ask him or her to support Rep. Weiner's single payer amendment. The Congressional Switchboard can be reached, toll free at 800-473-6711.

Background:

HR 676 would institute a single payer health care system by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to everyone residing in the U.S.

HR 676 would cover every person 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, hearing services including hearing aids, chiropractic, durable medical equipment, palliative care, and long term care.

HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save hundreds of billions annually by eliminating the high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.

In the current Congress, HR 676 has 85 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers . Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced SB 703, a single payer bill in the Senate.

Please make calls today on these important bills!


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Posted by:
Jerin Alam
National NOW Young Feminist Task Force
National Organization for Women (NOW)

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