2006 Resolution - 006

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SUBJECT: 2006 Resolution Regarding the UAN National Legislative Agenda

Introduced by: Washington State Nurses Association Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare

Action: Passed Unanimously 3/16/06

WHEREAS, there are currently 44 million citizens without health insurance, including 8.5 million children, and the numbers of uninsured continue to rapidly increase annually; and

WHEREAS, since 1972 the American Nurses Association and its member states have consistently promoted and continue to promote the ideals of universal insurance coverage for all; and

WHEREAS,in 1999 the ANA House of Delegates agreed to endorse the single-payer mechanism as the most desirable option for financing a reformed healthcare system and agreed to continue to advocate for other measures to increase access to quality health care for all; and

WHEREAS, in 2005 the ANA House of Delegates directed that ANA use its leadership role to form and actively participate with other nursing professional associations, health care worker organizations, unions and citizen action groups to adopt a concrete agenda for health care reform; and

WHEREAS, the UAN has worked with Congress and the Administration to improve patient care and shape the future of all staff nurses and the health care system by improving the economic and general welfare of nurses, providing a quality work environment, protecting nurse and patient safety and influencing nursing practice standards; and

WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO for more than two decades has worked consistently with its member unions to achieve health care reform, including universal insurance coverage for all citizens;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,that the National Labor Assembly directs the UAN Executive Council to add the attainment of universal insurance coverage for all citizens and residents of the United States to its legislative agenda and to place it as a high priority within that agenda; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the UAN Executive Council work jointly and collaboratively with the ANA Board of Directors and the AFL-CIO Executive Council, as a high priority on their legislative agendas, to develop a plan to promote, achieve and implement universal insurance coverage for all by 2010; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NLA direct the UAN Executive Council to engage in a campaign that would include the union movement, healthcare organizations and community groups to develop a universal health care coalition. This coalition would carry out a campaign to support the fight for universal access to care to affirm that health care is a right and not a privilege.