Massachusetts NEA Local Endorses HR 676

> Massachusetts NEA Local Endorses HR 676
>
> The Board of Directors of the Somerville Teachers Association (STA)
> has
> voted to endorse HR 676, single payer health care legislation
> introduced
> by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).
>
> The Somerville Teachers Association, an affiliate of the Massachusetts
> Teachers Association and the National Education Association (NEA),
> voted
> at its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 7th. The STA has
> over
> 700 members who work as teachers, paraprofessionals and adult
> educators.
>
> "Health care reform is finally on the national agenda," said Linda
> Vitiello, President of the Somerville Teachers Association. "We are
> excited to be part of a national grassroots movement for Medicare
> for All
> and HR 676 -- and to join with so many other labor organizations that
> support it."
>
> "Winning reforms that will work for everyone should be the
> government's
> highest priority," Vitiello added. "For over 40 years Medicare has
> proven
> its effectiveness with seniors and the disabled. Improving and
> expanding
> it to cover everyone is the most common sense solution to the health
> care
> crisis." #30#
>
> 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 74 co-sponsors in addition to
> Conyers.
>
> HR 676 has been endorsed by 506 union organizations in 49 states
> including
> 125 Central Labor Councils and Area Labor Federations and 39 state
> AFL-CIO's (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, NY, NV & MA).
>
> For further information, a 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
> http://unionsforsinglepayerHR676.org
> 04/16/09