Action Alert: Single-Payer Bill Up for Vote

To: NOW Leaders
From: the NOW National Action Center

URGENT ACTION ALERT

July 23, 2009

National Single-Payer Bill Up for House Committee Vote

We just received an urgent message about a likely House Energy and Commerce Committee vote on single-payer health care Friday, July 24. A bill, H.R. 676, which would authorize a national single-payer health care plan (like Medicare for all) may come up for a vote. Certain "leaning" and "won't say" committee members need to hear from NOW activists that we want to see H.R. 676 passed – please call any of the committee members (all Democrats) whose names and numbers are listed below. Even if you are not in the district represented by that committee member, CALL THEM. PLEASE TAKE ACTION ASAP. Thanks for your quick response.

CALL "LEANING" DEMS:

Diana DeGette (CO) 202-225-4431
Jane Harman (D-CA) 202-225-8220
Christopher Murphy (CT) 202-225-4476
Frank Pallone (NJ) 202-225-4671
Bobby Rush (IL) 202-225-4372
Peter Welch (VT) 202-225-4115

CALL "WON'T SAY" OR "NOT ENOUGH VOTES" DEMS:

Rick Boucher (VA) 202-225-3861
Bruce Braley (IA) 202-225-2911
G.K. Butterfield (NC) 202-225-3101
Lois Capps (CA) 202-225-3601
Kathy Castor (FL) 202-225-3376
John Dingell (MI) 202-225-4071
Charles Gonzales (TX) 202-225-3236
Gene Green (TX) 202-225-1688
Jay Inslee (WA) 202-225-6311
Doris Matsui (CA) 202-225-7163
Jerry McNerney (CA) 202-225-1947
John Sarbanes (MD) 202-225-4016
Bart Stupak (MI) 202-225-4735
Betty Sutton (OH) 202-225-3401
Henry Waxman (chair, CA) 202-225-3976

Reportedly, Committee chair Henry Waxman (D-CA) has postponed this vote which was to have taken place on Wednesday because he fears that a national single-payer health care bill might really be adopted. H.R. 676 – The United States National Health Care Act, sponsored by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), chair of House Judiciary Committee and 85 other House members, will be offered as an amendment to the major health care reform bill by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY). On July 17, this committee adopted an amendment (25-19, including some Republicans!) offered by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) that would let states establish their own single-payer health care programs. An amazing win!

Please note: NOW's new president, Terry O'Neill, will be speaking at the Thursday, July 30, D.C. rally/lobby day event in support of a national single-payer health care plan; this event coincides with the 44th birthday anniversary of Medicare. Most activists will remember than NOW endorsed the single-payer health care approach in 1993 during the Clinton health care reform debate.

You may also want to contact your representative and two senators to let them know that you believe that access to health care is a fundamental human right and we must have health care reform that is truly universal and affordable. We will be sending out additional health care reform updates and action alerts in the coming days and weeks. Thanks, again, for your calls and email messages – we hear that they are making a difference in the health care debate.

Thanks to democrats.com for the breakdown of committee members.

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