New Hampshire AFL-CIO endorses H.R. 676

By Kay Tillow
Single Payer News, May 29, 2013

“On Saturday, May 4, the New Hampshire AFL-CIO unanimously passed a resolution supporting H.R. 676 and the adoption of a national single-payer health care system that covers all Americans for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs and dental,” reports President Mark MacKenzie.

New Hampshire is the 42nd state AFL-CIO federation to endorse H.R. 676, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All, sponsored by Congressman John Conyers Jr., D-Mich.

“H.R. 676 will save hundreds of billions of dollars by eliminating the private health insurance industry with its high overhead and profits,” said MacKenzie.

“As president of the New Hampshire AFL-CIO I am proud to have our members actively participate in the movement to win passage of H.R. 676 and to make health care a human right.”

In a separate development, on May 21, H.R. 676 gained another co-sponsor in Congress with the addition of Rep. Danny Davis (Ill.-7). H.R. 676 now has 42 co-sponsors.

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More on the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act

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

H.R. 676 would cover every person for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental (including oral surgery, periodontics, endodontics), mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care and correction, hearing services including hearing aids, chiropractic, durable medical equipment, palliative care, podiatric care, and long-term care.

H.R. 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. H.R. 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, H.R. 676 has 42 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers.

H.R. 676 has been endorsed by 601 union organizations including 145 Central Labor Councils/Area Labor Federations and 42 state AFL-CIOs (KY, PA, CT, OH, DE, ND, WA, SC, WY, VT, FL, WI, WV, SD, NC, MO, MN, ME, AR, MD-DC, TX, IA, AZ, TN, OR, GA, OK, KS, CO, IN, AL, CA, AK, MI, MT, NE, NJ, NY, NV, MA, RI, & NH).

For further information, a list of union endorsers, or a sample endorsement resolution, contact: Kay Tillow, All Unions Committee for Single Payer Health Care—H.R. 676, c/o Nurses Professional Organization (NPO) 1169 Eastern Parkway, Suite 2218, Louisville, KY 40217. Phone: (502) 636-1551. E-mail: nursenpo@aol.com Website: unionsforsinglepayer.org