November 17, 2009

Greetings,
As you know, in the next several weeks, Congress will vote on one of the single most important pieces of federal legislation since the passage of Social Security and Medicare--- a health care reform that will expand health insurance coverage to approximately 37 million uninsured Americans. Many of you have been working locally and nationally to educate, or lobby Congress for passage of a health reform bill that includes a strong Medicare like public option. Furthermore, many of your organizations have participated in the public option “surge meetings” on Capital Hill organized by various universal health care groups in order to create a much broader, diverse, and nationally coordinated movement for passage of a strong public option.  As a result of those meetings The Public Option National Alliance (PONA) has now been formed. 

This ad hoc organization will provide a united voice for the 47 million Americans who currently are uninsured, 50 million underinsured, 70 million with chronic illnesses, communities of color and working families who can ill afford the to pay the promised continuing skyrocketing monthly insurance premiums, co-pays, deductibles and unreasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

The time is now for Congress and the White House to listen to those who will be most impacted by a health care reform bill. We are focusing upon lobbying the Senate for a robust Public Option.  This week we shall schedule appointments with Democratic Senators and their health care staffers to obtain support for a strong public option. Our primary focus is on those whose views need to be changed. The alliance will continue to lobby the Congress and the White House through the Conference process.

In order to ensure that the Senate includes a strong Medicare like public option, and the President signs a bill with a strong Medicare like public option coming out of the Conference Committee, we are hereby asking that all organizations and individuals who have participated in the surge meetings, or have an interest in joining a national alliance for the public option, please join this ad hoc campaign.

Please email us to include your organization in the Alliance membership and outreach to Senators, including scheduled meetings. 

Sincerely,

Phyllis Zolotorow Executive Director Patients with Chronic Illness For Universal Health Care

Dr. John W. Boyd Founder and President National Black Farmers Assoc.

Fredette West