California Congressman Ro Khanna (D-17/Silicon Valley) has introduced H.R.6270, the State-Based Universal Health Care Act of 2023. The bill would provide a tool to help states create affordable, comprehensive healthcare plans for all their residents. It would establish a new waiver in the Affordable Care Act to facilitate approval of state systems and access to federal funds. Prior versions of the bill were introduced in 2019 and 2021.
Read the press release from Rep. Ro Khanna and the bill text.
The bill has 27 cosponsors, all Democrats, including three representatives from California: Jared Huffman (CD-2), Barbara Lee (CD- 12), and Adam B. Schiff (CD-30). The national group One Payer States is leading efforts to attract more Congressional co-sponsors and supporters. Visit the OPS website to learn more and help out.
“Universal health care will save lives and help fix our broken system that has left millions of Americans with crushing medical debt,” said Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17). Co-sponsors emphasized the essential nature of health care as a human right. “In the wealthiest nation on the planet, no one should be without health care. Universal health care is the lifeline that millions of people need so they don’t have to decide between getting critical medication and putting food on the table,” said Representative Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D (NY-16).
Read this Common Dreams piece from Public Citizen.