Congressional Update: John Conyers on Board!

It’s been a while since I’ve updated folks on how our campaign to contact Congress is going, but we’ve got a big breakthrough! DemFromCT over at DailyKos has the news:

In the pursuit of health reform, a major issue for the voters, there’s been some debate about the Health Care For America Now coalition and what their push for quality, affordable health care means for single payer advocates and for those who want this issue addressed in DC (see Health Reform: An Integrated Problem In An Integrated World and Health Care Discussion Links).

Today, John Conyers, author of H.R. 676 (the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act), is releasing a statement of principle.

“I am proud to join HCAN’s broad progressive campaign to raise awareness about the need for true universal health care reform.   The HCAN coalition and I are united by our belief that the current non-system of health care run by profit hungry insurance companies is unsustainable and inhumane. It will take a monumental effort to defeat the entrenched special interests that benefit from the status quo.  I remain firmly committed to the passage of my single-payer universal health care bill, H.R. 676, and believe that private insurance will never provide the kind of guaranteed affordable health care America needs. However, I agree with HCAN that a true policy debate in the Congress can only begin when there is broad consensus that the sham reform trumpeted by the industry is off the table.”

We’re proud to have one of the loudest critics of the insurance industry on board with our efforts, and we repeat our claim that the people who want health care reform are united behind Health Care for America Now and our statement of principles.

Because of this united front, support from Congress is flooding in. As of today, 31 Representatives and 2 Senators have signed onto our efforts. Here’s the full list:

Arizona
Representative  Raul Grijalva

Arkansas
Representative Marion Berry
Representative Mike Ross

California
Representative Henry Waxman

Florida
Representative Corrine Brown
Representative Robert Wexler

Illinois
Representative Janice Schakowsky

Iowa
Senator Tom Harkin

Louisiana
Representative William Jefferson

Maryland
Representative Elijah Cummings
Senator Barbara Mikulski
Representative Chris VanHollen

Michigan
Representative John Conyers, Jr.
Representative David E. Kildee
Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick

Minnesota
Representative Keith Ellison

Missouri
Representative Russ Carnahan
Representative Emanuel Cleaver

New Jersey
Representative Bill Pascrell
Representative Albio Sires

New York
Representative Timothy Bishop
Representative Kirsten Gillibrand
Representative John Hall
Representative Brian Higgins
Representative Carolyn McCarthy
Representative Michael R. McNulty

Ohio
Representative Tim Ryan

Pennsylvania
Representative Jason Altmire

Texas
Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee

Washington
Representative  Adam Smith

Wisconsin
Representative  Tammy Baldwin
Representative  Steve Kagen
Representative Ron Kind

More are going to come in shortly.

Overall, with the help of thousands across this country, we’ve contacted 273 Members of Congress, over 50%! As the number of phone calls has grown, as more people tell their elected officials to get on board with quality, affordable health care for all, Congress is joining the fight.

So, if you haven’t already, please give your Members of Congress a call. They are really listening, and you can really make a difference.