Illinois UTU and Indiana UMWA Locals Endorse HR 676

 Illinois UTU and Indiana UMWA Locals Endorse HR 676

Illinois UTU and Indiana UMWA Locals Endorse HR 676

In Salem, Illinois, Paul Byars, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 0979 of the
United Transportation Union (UTU), reports the local has endorsed HR 676,
single payer health care legislation introduced by Congressman John
Conyers (D-MI).

In Booneville, Indiana, Roger Anderson, President of United Mine Workers
(UMWA) Local 9926, reports that his local has also endorsed HR 676.

Roger Anderson said:  "The UMWA has been at the forefront of health care.
It was one of the first unions to negotiate health care for its working
members and retirees and the only union to build hospitals in rural areas
to guarantee access to health care for its members and their families.
With the present system in place, the members of Local 9926 understand
that the health care they have fought for and were promised for life can
be taken away overnight."    #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 83 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced SB 703, a single payer bill
in the Senate.

HR 676 has been endorsed by 543 union organizations in 49 states including
128 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
06/28/09