<div>I normally would wait for Suzanne to post this but since I have been talking about this issue already I thought I would forward this resolution on to you. I have known that this resolution was being written for the last week or so but the Chapter Councilors writing it thought I was too "radical" to move or second the resolution. ;-) Anyway, if this resolution passes at the ALA Council meeting it will give the ALA Washington Office a push towards being an active voice on health care for us in Congress. </div>
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<div>Of course, you can also send a note today to your Senators and Representatives using the ALA site. As long as you know your zipcode this is a quick and easy way to send an email: <a href="http://capwiz.com/ala/home/">http://capwiz.com/ala/home/</a> .<br>
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<div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Nancy Wilson</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:readmorenow@comcast.net">readmorenow@comcast.net</a>></span><br>
Date: Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 1:30 PM<br>Subject: [alacoun] resolution endorsing single payer, universal health care<br>To: <a href="mailto:alacoun@ala.org">alacoun@ala.org</a><br>Cc: Kendall Wiggin <<a href="mailto:kwiggin@cslib.org">kwiggin@cslib.org</a>>, Lynne Bradley <<a href="mailto:lbradley@alawash.org">lbradley@alawash.org</a>><br>
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<p>Fellow Councilors, <br></p>
<p>I plan to introduce the attached resolution regarding health care at annual conference.<span> </span>The resolution reaffirms ALA’s prior stands in support of single-payer health care, and expresses our support for legislation currently before Congress.<span> </span>Senate Bill 703 has been introduced by my Vermont senator, Bernie Sanders, who was very helpful to libraries in opposing provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act. <br>
</p>
<p>The resolution’s wording borrows heavily from the 2006 resolution adopted by Council.<span> </span>Although the resolution doesn’t express a new viewpoint for ALA, it IS important.<span> </span>By passing it, we lend our political support to Senator Sanders and Representative Conyers and let them know that we appreciate their efforts.<span> </span>And we send a signal to the president that change is important to the health of our nation’s libraries.<span> </span>I believe it is critical that we do this now, when decisions about health care are actually getting made.<span> </span> <br>
</p>
<p>When libraries can’t afford health care coverage for their employees, they have difficulty recruiting and retaining library workers.<span> </span>When our towns and states have to direct more and more dollars to health care costs, they have less money to fund libraries.<span> </span>And when our library users face the stress of bankruptcy due to medical expenses, they have difficulty exercising their freedom to read and engaging in civic life.<span> </span>That’s why my state library association passed a resolution supporting single-payer, universal health care in 2006. <br>
</p>
<p>I hope you’ll support the resolution, and I look forward to hearing any questions or concerns.<span> </span>I am copying this message to the Washington Office and to the chair of the Committee on Legislation. <br></p>
<p>Thanks.<br></p>
<p>Nancy Wilson,</p>
<p>Vermont Chapter Councilor<br></p><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Nancy Wilson<br>Library Director<br>Lawrence Memorial Library<br>40 North St<br>Bristol, VT 05443<br>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">RESOLUTION ENDORSING LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS</span></b></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">FOR SINGLE-PAYER, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE</span></b></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">WHEREAS,<span> </span>American Library Association Policy 54.20 (“Comprehensive Health Care”) states that “ALA recognizes the importance of comprehensive health care for all Americans and its impact on libraries and their users”; and</span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">WHEREAS,<span> </span>The ALA joined the Universal Health Care Action Network (UHCAN) by resolution on January 18, 2005; and</span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">WHEREAS,<span> </span>On June 28, 2006, the ALA endorsed a resolution supporting HR 676, “Expanded Medicare for All,” calling for a single-payer, universal health-care program; and</span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">WHEREAS,<span> </span>The rapidly rising cost of health-care benefits continues to inhibit the ability of libraries to create career opportunities for librarians and library workers, stunts improvements in wages, and thereby threatens the future of our profession and our libraries; and</span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">WHEREAS,<span> </span>The rising cost of providing health insurance has placed enormous burdens on state and local governments, making it increasingly difficulty for them to adequately fund schools and libraries; and</span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">WHEREAS,<span> </span>46 million people in the United States have no health insurance; and</span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">WHEREAS,<span> </span>Uninsured and underinsured working people often face financial ruin in the event of a medical emergency, which negatively impacts our communities; and</span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">WHEREAS,<span> </span>Without good health, humankind cannot truly exercise intellectual freedom and civic engagement; and</span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">WHEREAS,<span> </span>A single-payer program as provided in S. 703 and H.R. 676 offers an affordable opportunity to provide needed universal and comprehensive health care coverage in the United States; now, therefore, be it</span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">RESOLVED,<span> </span>That the American Library Association (ALA):</span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -1in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1.5in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">1.<span> </span>Reaffirms its support of a single-payer health-care program.</span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1.5in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1.5in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">2.<span> </span>Endorses bills such as S. 703, “American Health Security Act of 2009,” and H. R. 676, “United States National Health Care Act,” which favor single-payer health care.</span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1.5in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1.5in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">3.<span> </span>Send a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States and to all U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives.</span></p>
<p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; MARGIN-LEFT: 1.5in"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Mover:<span> </span>Nancy Wilson, Vermont Chapter Councilor, Embassy Suites, 802-999-8391</span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Seconder:<span> </span>Rob Banks, _____________________, ____(hotel here)_______________</span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: right" align="right"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><span>7/1/2009 4:25 PM</span></span></i><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"></span></i></p><br><br></div><br><br clear="all">
<div></div><br>-- <br>Diedre Conkling<br>Lincoln County Library District<br>P.O. Box 2027<br>Newport, OR 97365<br>Work phone & fax: 541-265-3066<br>Work email: <a href="mailto:diedre@beachbooks.org">diedre@beachbooks.org</a><br>
Home email: <a href="mailto:diedre08@gmail.com">diedre08@gmail.com</a><br>