By Evaristo Lara
Given the cuts made by the federal government to health programs, Members of the California Nurses Association (CNA) requested the support of the California State Assembly with the objective of promoting the bill AB 1900, the California Guaranteed Health Care for All Actalso known as CalCare.
This comprehensive, high-quality, single-payer program represents the only opportunity for many Californians to access health care when they need it.
However, the project has been dormant for some time in the state assembly where it is seeking possible approval.
Through a statement, Puneet Maharaj, executive director of the CNA, referred to the importance of the project and how they have stopped its progress to prevent it from being approved.
“We condemn this disgraceful move by the California State Assembly to block CalCare from advancing in the legislature.
Nurses know that Californians desperately need guaranteed healthcare. “We have been fighting for decades to ensure that healthcare is a human right, regardless of patients’ ability to pay,” he said.
Immediately afterwards, the woman, who has an extensive career focused on the defense of labor rights and public health, reiterated that the time has come to approve the bill.
“Any delay in CalCare directly impacts the health of Californians. We cannot wait for the disastrous effects of HR 1 to occur or for more people to die. NOW is the time to pass CalCare. Our legislators still have time to do the right thing,” he emphasized.
It should be noted that More than 300 organizations support CalCareincluding the California Federation of Unions, ACLU California Action, California Teachers Association, California Federation of Teachers, California School Employees Association, California Teachers Association, California Working Families Party, The Arc of California, College Professional and Technical Employees; and the Automobile Workers Union (Region 6).
It should be noted that the joint authors of the AB 1900 bill are Representatives Ash Kalra, Isaac Bryan, Alex Lee, Liz Ortega and Chris Rogers.
