Poll after poll shows that health care remains a top concern for the public as this fall’s election season approaches. We’re going to leverage that concern to urge New Yorkers  to show up and “Vote for Health Care!”

Health care IS on the ballot this fall, and New Yorkers can make a big difference in which way our country and state proceed. Our next Congress and next State Legislature and Governor will determine the future of health care in the U.S. and here in New York, so everyone’s vote really matters this fall.

Our Vote for Health Care! project has three goals:
— Register people to vote.
— Help people understand the key health care issues at stake in the elections.
— Mobilize people to get to the polls.

It was a full house at the United Federation of Teachers on Aug. 9 as we all came together to celebrate the anniversaries of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security which are happening since late July through mid-August. We committed ourselves to joining forces to preserve, improve, and expand these three bedrock programs of our nation’s social contract, which support millions of New Yorkers and protect our families. We also reaffirmed our commitment to fighting for universal health care nationally, particularly a universal Medicare program. We were delighted to be joined by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-9) as they inspired us for our work ahead. We want to thank our partners at the UFT and with the New York State Alliance for Retired Americans’ New York City Chapter for their crucial behind-the-scenes support.

On Aug. 8, we met with leaders and representatives of grassroots groups in southwest Brooklyn to plan how to roll out our Vote for Health Care! project in their congressional district, which is a crucial one for New York City. It was a follow-up discussion to one we held in on July 23 in the other part of the district over on Staten Island.

All of this activity is only possible because of the active engagement of concerned New Yorkers, and especially their financial support. We invite everyone to make a contribution!

Here’s how to join on our 2018 “Vote for Health Care!” team:

— Make a contribution on our Action Network page:

— Make a contribution using the donate button here on our website.

We want to thank the following groups and individuals who’ve stepped forward so far:

Organizations and Unions:
Actors Fund
Associated Musicians of Greater New York, AFM Local 802
Center for Independence of the Disabled of NY
Citizen Action of NY
Communications Workers of America, District 1
Communications Workers of America, Local 1102
Community Service Society of New York
District Council 37 AFSCME
District Council 1707 AFSCME
Doctors for America, New York Chapter
Healthcare Education Project, 1199SEIU & GNYHA
Hudson Center for Health Equity and Quality
Greater New York LECET
New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
New York Gray Panthers
New York Professional Nurses Association
New York State Nurses Association
Organization of Staff Analysts
Physicians for a National Health Program, NY Metro Chapter
Project Hospitality
Social Service Employees Union, Local 371 DC 37
1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East

Individuals:
Carmelita Blake
Anne Bove
George Carter
Melinda Dutton
Pat Fry
David & Ronda Kotelchuck
Terry Mizrahi
Chuck Mohan
Jim Perlstein
Alec Pruchnicki
Lou and Sara Levitt
Edwin Webber