AFGE and IUPAT Locals in Oregon Endorse HR 676

AFGE and IUPAT Locals in Oregon Endorse HR 676

AFGE and IUPAT Locals in Oregon Endorse HR 676

Portland, Oregon.  American Federation of Government Employees Local 2157
and Painters Local 10 have endorsed HR 676, single payer healthcare
legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).

AFGE Local 2157 represents 600 employees at the Portland VA Medical Center
and outlying clinics in Oregon as well as at the Veterans' Benefits
Administration offices and Willamette National Cemetery.  The local
endorsed HR 676 following a presentation by member Betsy Zucker and Jobs
with Justice activist  Peter  Shapiro.  Local 2157 President Leonard Fearn
said:  "We are proud to join the growing number of unions who support
single payer healthcare.  Private insurance adds cost, but no value, to
our health care dollars.  Single Payer Now."

AFGE Local 2157 has submitted its resolution to the AFGE International
Union Convention which meets this month.

Local 10 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT)
also endorsed HR 676.  Travis Giobbi, a Local 10 apprentice, submitted the
resolution and reports that the local forwarded its resolution to their
International Union Convention which meets in September.    #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 86 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 558 union organizations in 49 states including
130 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
08/20/09