Supporters Also Plan SB 562 Support Rallies at State Capitol on Oct. 23 and 24 During Select Committee Hearings on Health Care

The California Nurses Association, Healthy California campaign, Our Revolution and #KnockEveryDoor will hold grassroots actions, including canvassing, on Oct. 14 and 15 in all 80 state Assembly districts, to engage residents with the Medicare-for-All movement and the campaign for SB 562, legislation which would guarantee health coverage to all Californians and eliminate premiums, deductibles and other out-of-pocket health costs.

More than one hundred actions are planned from Eureka to Mt. Shasta, throughout the SF Bay Area to the High Desert, down to Los Angeles and San Diego. To find an event in an assembly district near you visit: https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/medicare-for-all-weekend-of-action

"When we go door-to-door we find that many of our neighbors are eager to see our elected officials move forward with Medicare-for-all, the only comprehensive solution to the healthcare crisis," said Deborah Burger, Co-President, National Nurses United. "On the upcoming days of action, we'll knock on doors throughout the state to connect many more of our neighbors to the movement for single-payer nationally and the Healthy California Act SB 562."

Supporters of SB 562 have roundly criticized California Assembly Speaker for blocking the democratic process by delaying SB 562, and creating instead, a "Select Committee on Health Care Delivery Systems and Universal Coverage," with absolutely no legislative authority. The first select committee hearings will be held Oct. 23 and 24 in Sacramento with apparently little time scheduled for public comment.

Supporters of SB 562 will hold rallies to urge that legislators move SB 562 forward, on both days of the "Select Committee on Health Care Delivery Systems and Universal Coverage," hearings, Oct. 23 and Oct. 24, on the North Steps of the California State Capitol building from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Despite legislative delays, momentum for the bill is growing. On Sept. 21, Lt. Gov. Newsom, addressing some 1000 California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee members at their national convention in San Francisco, affirmed his support for SB 562 and expressed his conviction that California should not wait to see what happens in Washington DC, but lead the nation in implementing an improved and expanded Medicare-for-all. 

“There is no reason to wait around on universal health care. It’s time to dust off 562, its time to move 562 along," said Newsom. "It’s time to get it out of committee and move it along the legislative track. It’s time to do that now."

The urgency of moving SB 562 forward mounts as Republicans in Congress continue to float proposals that threaten to cut Medicare and Medicaid, and possibly repeal parts of the ACA, through legislative maneuvering and the budget process.

Senator Bernie Sanders, in a well-publicized speech to thousands of Medicare-for-All supporters in San Francisco's Yerba Buena Gardens last month, told the audience that stopping efforts to cut health care for millions is essential but “we have to understand that maintaining the status quo is just not good enough."

Last month, Sen. Sanders introduced federal legislation, S. 1804, the Medicare for All Act of 2017, which advances genuine universal care for everyone, regardless of ability to pay, gender, race, nationality, or background.

The approaching statewide actions mark an expansion in the campaign organizing that's been underway in many California communities prior to, and since Assembly Speaker Rendon refused to let SB 562 move forward in the state Assembly. Supporters have conducted numerous visits to their representatives in district offices, held town halls and canvassed in many cities including Apple Valley, Arcata, Bakersfield, Bell, Corona, Davis, Eureka, Fresno, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Healdsburg, Kelseyville, Los Angeles, McKinleyville, Napa, Nevada City, Oakland, Oxnard, Paramount, Patterson, Roseville, Sacramento, San Bernardino, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Sonora, South Gate, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, Van Nuys, Ventura, Whittier and Woodland Hills. 

To learn more about the Healthy California Act SB 562 visit:  http://www.healthycaliforniaact.org/