As much as the ACA is a lifesaver for many formerly uninsured Americans, most of us know it hasn't gone far enough, fast enough. Single payer is the ultimate goal, and should continue to be. It's as much a closing of the gap between the rich and the poor as raising the minimum wage and good stable jobs.
H.R. 676 would replace the current system with a single public agency that pays all medical claims, and would eliminate co-pays and deductibles. The bill needs our support in any way we can. Even if it just means letting our members of congress know how serious we feel this bill's passage is to the well-being of the middle class in general. It's an uphill battle, for sure. But perhaps if we set aside a specific day (May 22) to push this agenda in Washington, we'll hit a nerve (not that anyone in Washington has any nerve endings left to be hit and felt). But who knows. We won't know unless we shout it out loud from the highest mountain tops around.
The Physicians for a National Health Program is spreading the message for us all to find a way of giving life support to an idea whose time is now.
Check out this list to see if your congress person is aboard. If not, please give yours a call.
Cosponsors: H.R.676 "Expanded and Improved Medicare For All" — 113th Congress (2013-2014)
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Grijalva, Raul M. [D-AZ-3]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-13]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-27]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-20]* 02/13/2013
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Welch, Peter [D-VT-At Large]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-13]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA-14]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL-4]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Edwards, Donna F. [D-MD-4]* 02/13/2013
Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO-1]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Miller, George [D-CA-11]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Honda, Michael M. [D-CA-17]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Christensen, Donna M. [D-VI-At Large]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]* 02/13/2013
Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12] 02/14/2013
Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5] 02/14/2013
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] 02/14/2013
Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20] 03/13/2013
Rep. Grayson, Alan [D-FL-9] 05/08/2013
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] 05/21/2013
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] 06/03/2013
Rep. Sanchez, Loretta [D-CA-46] 07/19/2013
Rep. Capuano, Michael E. [D-MA-7] 07/24/2013
Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12] 07/30/2013
Rep. Brady, Robert A. [D-PA-1] 07/30/2013
Rep. Serrano, Jose E. [D-NY-15] 07/30/2013
Rep. Fattah, Chaka [D-PA-2] 09/26/2013
Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] 09/26/2013
Rep. Sanchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] 10/10/2013
Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4] 11/19/2013
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] 12/03/2013
Rep. Negrete McLeod, Gloria [D-CA-35] 01/29/2014
Rep. Hahn, Janice [D-CA-44] 03/25/2014
Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13] 04/28/2014