by
Terry P Rodriguez
PCDCC Legislative Committee Chair
The strength of our nation relies on human resources to power it politically, militarily, and economically. Our citizens are the power behind our successful American way-of-life. This power is 100% dependent on the good health of all American citizens.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared in its Constitution of 1946, that “enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health.' has been recognized as a 'fundamental right’ internationally.”[1] In a presentation to the World Health Organization by United Health Care Roundtable on April 12, 2018, Nduka Obaigvena, publisher of Thisday, was quoted as saying, "a healthy nation is a wealthy nation, and every life matters." The report continued to argue, government cannot be relied upon solely to enact universal healthcare. Its citizens must activate in concert with government to achieve this objective.[2]
Professor Theo C. Van Boven, Director of the United Nations Division of Human Rights and an International Law Professor, stated there are "three aspects" toward achieving healthcare for all: establishing that health is a basic human right; determining the health services required to achieve this purpose; and the process needed to enact these services.[3] Bernie Sanders has often stated, "We say to the private health insurance companies: whether you like it or not, the United States will join every other major country on earth and guarantee healthcare to all people as a right."[4]
California State Assembly Bill 1400, Guaranteed Health Care for All, introduced into the 2021-2022 Legislation Session, is the opportunity for our citizenry to unite with our state representatives in the legislative process to formulate and enact the passage of a universal health plan for all Californians. Senator Sanders stated health care is a right of every American citizen, not just for the wealthy and privileged. Our state legislature has put forth a bill listing health services required to achieve this right. Time is critical for our California citizenry to become active in promoting the passage of AB 1400. Currently, the state legislature is tasked with producing a budget analysis by January 22, 2022 in the process of acting on the legislation. As California citizens, we have the right to health services at an affordable rate to achieve personal good health. We must urge our state legislative representatives to make AB 1400 Health Care for All a reality...a fiscally supported law.
The following links provide further information on AB 1400, that you, the readers, can use to help achieve success in its passage through the California state legislative process.
Medicare for All: Resolutions
AB 1400 Guaranteed Health Care for All
Information and Activism Sources
https://www.medicare4allresolutions.org/
AB 1400 California Health Care for All Act (CalCare) Factsheet
California State Assembly Members Contact Information
https://www.assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers
California State Senate Members Contact Information
https://www.senate.ca.gov/senators
[1] Leary, Virginia A. “The Right to Health in International Human Rights Law.” Health and Human Rights 1, no. 1 (1994): 24–56. https://doi.org/10.2307/4065261, pg. 28, (Accessed October 23 2021).
2 United Health Care (UHC), World Health Organization, UHC Letter to the World Health Organization dated 12 April 2018, https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/uhc-roundtable, April 12 2018, (Accessed October 23 2021).
3 Van Boven, Theo C., "The Right to Health," in Leary, Virginia A. “The Right to Health in International Human Rights Law.” Health and Human Rights 1, no. 1 (1994): 24–56. https://doi.org/10.2307/4065261, Page 29. (Accessed October 23, 2021.
4 BERNIE, "Health Care as a Human Right – Medicare For All," Friends of Bernie Sanders, https://berniesanders.com/issues/medicare-for-all/ (Accessed October 21 2021).
