Seattle City Council Endorses HR 676

The Seattle City Council has joined the growing nationwide movement of cities, counties, and state legislatures to urge Congress to pass HR 676, national single payer healthcare, introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).

The cities, counties, and states endorsing HR 676 are listed at unionsforsinglepayer.org/more. Many of the approved resolutions are available at that website.

The Seattle resolution was written by Councilmember Nick Licata, and passed unanimously on February 17. Licata sponsored the resolution at the request of the Washington chapter of Physicians for a National Health Plan.

According to Licata, "Resolution 31111 urges the U.S. Congress to enact legislation to establish and implement this right by adopting HR 676, the U.S. National Health Insurance Act, proposed by Representative John Conyers or HR 1200, the American Health Security Act, proposed by Representative Jim McDermott.

Both bills are the 'single-payer' model, which would guarantee everyone access to all medically necessary care, including prescription drugs, with no co-pays or deductibles... The resolution also requests our Washington State Congressional delegation to support these bills.

...Local government is closer to the people and their health care struggles than most elected officials. We see the real impacts of our communities and constituents suffering."

Licata's resolution pointed out that an estimated 15.6% of King County residents do not have health insurance, and the number of uninsured children in Washington State is the highest it's been in a decade.

You can read the Seattle resolution here:

Thanks to Unions for Single Payer for this information!