Two labor councils in northern New Jersey, and one in central Indiana, have endorsed HR 676, national single payer healthcare legislation, introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI). Fifty-three central labor councils, including six in New Jersey, have now endorsed HR 676.
After the White River Central Labor Council in Bloomington, IN endorsed HR 676, Jackie Yenna, council president said, “The time has come for all Americans to be able to have health care. I trust our newly elected congress will work with us to pass HR 676”.
The Passaic County Central Labor Council in Clifton, NJ endorsed HR 676 at its October meeting.
In Jersey City the Hudson County Central Labor Council, whose members include more than a thousand health care workers in 8 hospitals, acted at its November meeting. Its resolution states: “The system of managed care…has proven itself detrimental to the health of the patients it serves…and damaging to the United States’ healthcare system.” The resolution also declares: “That the Hudson County Central Labor Council AFL-CIO when endorsing a candidate for public office will look to said candidate to endorse HR 676…”
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HR 676 now has 77 congressional co-sponsors in addition to John Conyers. It would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.
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 the high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs.
HR 676 has been 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).
For further information, a complete list of union endorsers, or a sample endorsement resolution, contact:
Kay Tillow
All Unions Committee For Single Payer Health Care-HR 676
c/o Nurses Professional Organization (NPO)
1169 Eastern Parkway, Suite 2218
Louisville, KY 40217
(502) 636 1551
Email: nursenpo@aol.com
11/29/06