Health Care is a Right

The U.S. Health and Human Rights Initiative

Voters in Tacoma, Washington Overwhelming Approve
A Right to Health Care Measure

Uplift International Helps Lead The Way

The City of Tacoma The residents of Tacoma took a significant step forward to make health care a right, not just a wish. On November 6, 2007, 72% of the voters In Tacoma, Washington approved Proposition 1 which endorses Tacoma City Council Resolution 37226. Uplift worked closely with community activists and Tacoma City staff, and played a significant role in drafting the resolution language.

The Resolution provides that: "[T]he citizens of the City and of the Tacoma City Council [support] . . . state and federal legislation that would recognize the right of access and availability to high-quality, appropriate health care for all; [T]he City's intent to take steps locally in support of this goal." Resolution 37226 further requires that the City Council:

Section 1: Forward support for the right to health care to the Washington State Legislature and the United States Congress.
Section 2: Join with its citizens in asking the Washington State Legislature and the United States Congress to enact legislation that implements appropriate, high-quality health care that is accessible and available to all and calls upon members of the Washington State Congressional Delegation to move this issue to the forefront of the federal agenda and for members of the Washington State Legislature to move this issue to the forefront of the state agenda.

Section 3: Consider actions it can take locally in support of education and advocacy efforts regarding this issue, including asking the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department to take actions such as researching ways to improve health care access for uninsured Tacoma residents; compiling data and publishing an annual report on local health care indicators, including information on access to health care; and convening a panel of experts to prepare a report and make recommendations to the City about specific steps the City and private employers could take to improve insurance coverage for Tacoma residents.

Uplift International Helps Lead the Initiative Linking Health & Human Rights

Uplift International began to work with the citizens of Tacoma in early 2006 on a right-to-healthcare campaign. During the summer of 2006, Uplift International staff and interns worked with like-minded Tacoma residents to place a right-to-healthcare resolution on the city ballot for the November 2007 election. Together, the Uplift International and Tacoma volunteers gathered the required 4,500 signatures.

The signatures were presented to the Tacoma City Council on July 10, 2007, and the Council voted to put the issue before the voters in November ’07 as Proposition 1. Uplift organized a "Yes on Proposition 1" campaign in order to educate the public about the issue and to gain broad support for the Proposition 1.

Uplift International is now working with citizen groups and the City of Tacoma to implement Proposition 1.

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