June 3, 2009, Washington, DC
Following a meeting in mid-May, organized by Progressive Democrats of America and the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing committee, with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, the following letter from Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Donna edwards (D-MD) and John Conyers (D-MI) was sent on June 1, 2009:
Representative Steny H. Hoyer
House Democratic Majority Leader
H-107, The Capitol
Washington D.C. 20515
Dear Majority Leader Hoyer,
We appreciate the time you took to meet with Representatives Edwards, Cohen, Cleaver, and ourselves, along with Tim Carpenter from Progressive Democrats of America, Michael Lighty and Donna Smith from the California Nurses Association. We look forward to advancing, in your eloquent words, “robust, deep debate on single-payer,” in the House of Representatives during the 111th Congress.
We know health reform legislation is moving forward quickly, and we are concerned that the exclusion of single-payer from consideration by Congress would prohibit an informed policy discussion about true health reform. Given that more than 60% of Americans are in favor of national health insurance and that HR 676, the single payer non- profit universal health care bill, has the support of 78 House Members and, it is crucial that this perspective be part of this historic debate. HR 676 has also been endorsed by over 15,000 doctors, two former editors of the New England Journal of Medicine, 40 State AFL-CIO organizations, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the American Public Health Association. Clearly, there is much that can be learned from having an objective and substantive discussion on the merits of national health insurance.
Additionally, we would appreciate if you would inform us of whom you have designated to coordinate the bi-weekly meetings on single-payer, which you thought would be useful for Members and other health policy experts. Our staff would like to work with your office to help facilitate these meetings. Keeping these discussions structured and focused will be critical to their success in terms of addressing the lack of information available to Congressional members on the single-payer healthcare option.
Thank you for meeting with us on this important and timely issue and for agreeing that single-payer healthcare advocates should take part in the healthcare reform discussion.
Sincerely,
John Conyers, Jr., Raul Grijalva, Donna Edwards
Members of Congress
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