CWA Phone Blitz Starts July 27 for Health Care Reform

Monday, July 27 kicks off CWA's biggest week of action yet for health care reform. It starts with a phone blitz by CWA members and activists to Capitol Hill as the House prepares to vote on America's Affordable Health Choices Act.

The bill, H.R. 3200, was crafted by three House committees: Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor. The full House is expected to vote before the August recess. The bill, H.R. 3200, is the piece of legislation that has emerged so far from Capitol Hill that best responds to CWA's priorities for reform:

• All employers required to contribute to their employees' coverage.
• A public insurance plan option.
• Protections for retirees, including pre-Medicare retirees.
• No taxes on employer-paid benefits for working and middle class families.

Members of CWA Local 2100 stand up for health care reform.

"These are the critical elements of real health care reform," CWA President Larry Cohen said in a letter to the three House committees. "By building on this foundation, your bill paves the way to creating an affordable, quality health care system that guarantees health care for all of us."

CWA's legislative and political action teams and health care coordinators are organizing at worksites and recruiting volunteers to make the calls. Using cell phones and an 800 number, CWAers will be meeting in break and lunch rooms, at membership and retiree meetings, at garages before heading out to work and lots of other locations to make the calls to urge their  congressional representatives to pass the bill without weakening amendments. 

Meanwhile, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has passed its version of health care reform, and another bill is pending in the Finance Committee. Stay tuned for email messages from CWA about this action.