Title
Congratulating President-elect Obama and inviting him to Philadelphia to promote affordable and accessible health care as part of an affordable health care inaugural tour.
Body
WHEREAS, An estimated 136,000 Philadelphia residents are uninsured and unable to afford access to decent health care on a regular basis and health care expenditures for Philadelphia residents exceeds $8.6 billion annually; and
WHEREAS, In response to this issue, the electors of the City of Philadelphia, on November 4, 2003, approved an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter declaring that health care is an essential safeguard of human life and dignity, and that there is an obligation for the City of Philadelphia to insure that every resident is able to realize this fundamental right; and
WHEREAS, This amendment to the Home Rule Charter requires the Department of Health to prepare a plan for universal health coverage that permits everyone in the City of Philadelphia to obtain decent health care on a regular basis; and
WHEREAS, The Committee on Public Health and Human Services has held hearings to investigate the state of health care for the residents of Philadelphia and has continued to work with the Department of Health to develop a plan for universal health care coverage; and
WHEREAS, The issue of access to affordable and accessible health care is not just a Philadelphia issue, but one that affects Pennsylvania and the entire nation; and
WHEREAS, President-elect Obama ran a campaign that had a significant focus and promise of affordable and accessible health care for all Americans; and
WHEREAS, Considering Tuesday's vote count and this Home Rule Charter amendment, the citizens of Philadelphia voted for President-elect Obama and have a mutual goal of affordable and accessible health care for all Americans; and
WHEREAS, The right to have affordable and accessible health care is not a Democratic i...
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