This summer, the ACLC and its co-sponsor Medicare for All Florida hope to get the following resolution in support of Medicare for All passed by both our City and County commissions. Below is a copy of the resolution, please sign our petition to our local decision-makers so that we can get these resolutions passed.
THE GAINESVILLE CITY COMMISSION, CALLING ON FEDERAL LEGISLATORS TO ENACT HR1976 “MEDICARE FOR ALL ACT OF 2021” AND SUBSEQUENT LEGISLATION IN THE US SENATE AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK TO PROVIDE COPIES OF THIS RESOLUTION TO FEDERAL LEGISLATORS
WHEREAS, every person in the city of Gainesville, the State of Florida and the United States deserves high quality healthcare; and
WHEREAS, over 30 million Americans have no health insurance, including over 2.78 million Floridians; and
WHEREAS, almost half of Floridians (45%) including those who have insurance did not obtain needed health care such as filling prescriptions or seeing a doctor because of cost barriers, and about one-third of those who did get some needed healthcare struggled to pay their medical bills; and
WHEREAS, medical debt is the most common cause of bankruptcy, and
WHEREAS, during the Covid pandemic profits of insurance and pharmacological companies continued to grow, while patients’ medical costs continued to rise and many workers lost their jobs and their insurance coverage through becoming ill; and
WHEREAS, the United States spends more on healthcare than any other industrialized country, but has worse outcomes in many indicators such as life expectancy and infant mortality; and
WHEREAS, the Medicare for All Act of 2021, HR1976, would provide health insurance for every person in the United States covering all necessary health care including: hospital, surgical and outpatient services; primary and preventive care; prescription drugs; reproductive care; dental, vision and hearing care; mental health care; and long-term care; and
WHEREAS, HR1976 would provide coverage without premiums, copays, deductibles or other out-of-pocket expenses; and would assure patients of an unrestricted choice of doctors; and
WHEREAS, it is expected that a companion bill to HR1976 will be brought before the U.S. Senate
WHEREAS, The Congressional Budget Office concluded in a recent report that Medicare for All would result in higher wages, increased household disposable income, improve workers’ health and longevity, and administrative waste in health care would be reduced, and
WHEREAS, Gainesville residents who are now uninsured or underinsured would enjoy a vast improvement in their quality of life, because they could obtain healthcare when they need it instead of delaying until they have a medical emergency; and
WHEREAS, universal health coverage as provided by HR1976 would alleviate the lack of proper medical care for vulnerable communities including the unhoused, unemployed, people of color, people with low income; and
WHEREAS, unbundling health insurance from employment would allow workers to leave unsatisfactory jobs without forfeiting insurance benefits; and
WHEREAS, recent polls show that a majority of Americans and 62 percent of Florida residents are in favor of Medicare for All.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Gainesville City Commission supports the enactment of HR1976 the Medicare for All Act of 2021 and all subsequent legislation that will assure appropriate and efficient health care for all residents; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk is hereby authorized to send a certified copy of this resolution to Representative Kat Cammack, Senator Marco Rubio and Senator Rick Scott.