WHEREAS, the number of Americans without health insurance is well over 30 million, and climbing, with over 30 million Americans filing for unemployment as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic; and

WHEREAS, despite important gains made since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, at least 40 million Americans are under-insured, to the degree that they cannot afford to see a doctor or seek preventive medical care as they do not meet onerous deductibles until May of each calendar year and cannot afford the co-pays; and

WHEREAS, every person in Pittsfield Charter Township deserves high quality healthcare; and

WHEREAS, the never-ending rising costs of healthcare add additional uncontrolled costs adds to our already strained municipal budget and our small businesses, which keep our community thriving; and

WHEREAS, the Medicare for All Act of 2019 would provide national health insurance for every person in the United States for all necessary medical care, including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical and outpatient services; primary and preventive care; mental health care; emergency services; reproductive care; dental and vision care; and long-term care; and

WHEREAS, recent polls show that over 55% of Americans of all political persuasions support Medicare for All; and

WHEREAS, the Medicare for All act of 2019 provides guarantees of full covered for healthcare without deductibles, co-pays, or other out-of-pocket costs for Pittsfield Charter Township residents, and would save millions in taxpayer dollars now spent on premiums that provide often inadequate health insurance coverage; and

WHEREAS, the failure to provide appropriate primary and preventive healthcare places unnecessary and expensive burdens on our emergency services, and tax the abilities of these systems to respond in true public health emergencies like the one we are currently experiencing;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Pittsfield Charter Township supports the Medicare for All Act of 2019 (H.R. 1384 and S. 1129) and calls on our state and federal legislators to work towards its immediate enactment, assuring comprehensive and efficient healthcare for our community’s residents; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Pittsfield Charter Township Board of Trustees expresses its enthusiastic support for State House Bill 6285, which establishes a Statewide single payer program known as “MI Care”, and encourages our state legislators to work towards its’ immediate enactment.