We have an opportunity to move our State an important step closer to universal health care for all Washingtonians! Monday morning the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee will take testimony on SB 5822/HB 1877, "Pathway to Universal Health Care."
SB 5822 was introduced by Sen. Emily Randall and is co-sponsored by many health care champions. It would create a work group of a broad range of health care stakeholders to study and make recommendations to the legislature on a universal health care system that is sustainable and affordable for all WA residents.
What you can do now:
- Email Committee Chair Annette Cleveland to say you SUPPORT SB 5822.
- If you wish to submit testimony on the bill, we recommend sending an email to Committee Chair Cleveland, her Legislative Assistant Vickie Winters, and the members of the Committee. Be sure to include the bill number and your position on the bill. Here are all the addresses, which you can copy and paste:
[email protected],[email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
- Send a comment of support to your own legislators by clicking on "Comment on this bill" button on the bill's page here. You can also call the Legislative Hotline, 1-800-562-6000.
- And attend the hearing, of course!
ALSO: One of Health Care Is a Human Right's member organizations, WA Community Action Network, is holding its Lobby Day on Monday. It has prioritized SB 5822 and several other important health care bills for constituent meetings with their legislators and has invited all of us to join their lobbying activities and get a provided lunch.
To join WA CAN's activities and reserve lunch, email WA CAN your name, your Legislative District, your meal preference (Meat, Vegetarian or Vegan) no later than end-of-day today, Friday 2/15.
After Monday's hearing and lobbying, there will be more to do before SB 5822 can be passed into law. There will be hearings in the House Health & Wellness Committee and possibly other committees. Your legislators will need to hear more from all of us on why guaranteeing affordable coverage to all Washingtonians is so important. We will keep you posted.
Thank you, Advocates - we'll see you bright and early Monday morning!
Tips
Sign In and Be Counted! - There are Sign-In computers at either end of the long hall. Please sign in and indicate you support SB 5822!
Find Us! We'll be in our yellow and blue swag - Represent in your HCFA-WA swag if you have it.
Parking & Carpools
Here's the link to parking info on the legislature website.
A free shuttle runs from three parking lots to the Capitol. Click for more info on the DASH schedule and parking lot locations. Parking meters may take coins, cards, or SmartCards (available at Olympia City Hall) - click here for meter-specific information.