The Battle for Medicare for All Ramps Up - National Nurses United To Lead Grassroots Push of New Rep. Jayapal Bill

Today, National Nurses United announced their plan to mobilize across the Country in support of the Medicare for All Act (HB1384) introduced earlier this week by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, with support from more than 100 members of Congress.

Unveiling a plan to conduct more than 1,500 canvassing and phone banking "mass-organizing" events in all 435 Congressional districts, National Nurses United signaled their campaign to lead the grassroots support of Medicare for All in counties across the United States, regardless of zip code or area demographics.

"As nurses, we see not only our patients, but family, friends, and neighbors in our community, suffering needlessly because health care is not provided as a human right in this country," said Bonnie Castillo, RN and Executive Director for National Nurses United. "Nurses take an oath to advocate for our patients, and we can think of no better way to advance their health and the health of our country than to be on the frontlines of organizing this nationwide social movement to win Medicare for All."

Expanding on their previous commitment for single-payer health care, National Nurses United plans a widespread, three-pronged approach to garner support to pass a Medicare for All bill:

1. Pressuring members of Congress who serve on key committees to call for hearings while simultaneously pressuring Representatives who have yet to cosponsor the bill.
2. Building a volunteer network of tens of thousands of people across the United States to knock on hundreds of thousands of doors and cultivate support in communities across the country.
3. Employing the tactics of "big organizing" to build up support within progressive circles, ensuring that Medicare for All becomes part of the Democratic Party platform and supported by every major 2020 Presidential candidate.

These tactics have already proven successful.

In early February, National Nurses United organized volunteers to lead Medicare for All "barnstorms." The barnstorms were part of a "National Medicare for All Week of Action," led by NNU in coalition with organizations like Our Revolution and other single-payer advocacy groups. Over 150 volunteer-led barnstorms were held across the country, attended by over 5,000 people.

National Nurses United plans on continuing this movement - energetically and unapologetically in support of the Medicare for All Act of 2019.

"Making plans and then following through comes naturally to nurses because it's a huge part of what we do when we care for patients," said Jean Ross, RN and a president of National Nurses United. "Nurses have made big plans for this Medicare for All campaign. We're so happy with the success of our kick-off events in February and, today, we are announcing the second phase of our work: a large-scale, national campaign that will continue into 2020. Together, we will work side by side with volunteers across the United States to build power and support in both urban and rural areas to win Medicare for All."

To learn more about National Nurses United's plans to fight for Medicare for All, click here.

To learn more about upcoming mass-organizing events in your county, click here.

To get involved or to learn how to volunteer, click here.