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<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><a
href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=260%20State%20St%2C%20Springfield%2C%20MA%2001103&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl">Map
here.</a> There is no convenient public off-street parking near the
Federal Building. Please allow yourself time to find a spot on side
streets like Elliot, Spring, and School. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
nearest public lot is probably East Court Street across from the Mass Mutual
Center. It’s an uphill walk, about .4 miles, on State Street.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Please
<u>also</u> ask Neal to endorse HR 676 by phone, email, web-form, fax, in
person! <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><a
href="http://www.house.gov/neal/write_neal.html">http://www.house.gov/neal/write_neal.html</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><a
href="mailto:kevin.kennedy@mail.house.gov">kevin.kennedy@mail.house.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><a
href="mailto:james.leydon@mail.house.gov">james.leydon@mail.house.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>300
State Street, Suite 200<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Springfield
MA 01105<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(413) 785-0325<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>fax (413) 747-0604<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>2 Congress Street<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Milford MA 01757<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(508) 634-8198<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>fax (508) 634-8398<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>2208 Rayburn House Office Bldg<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.0in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Washington DC 20515<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.5in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>(202) 225-5601<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:2.5in'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>fax (202) 225-8112<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>36
Atwater Terrace<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Springfield
MA 01107<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Updated
May 25, 2009</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Contact:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
<span style='color:black'>Jon Weissman, Coordinator
or Jeff Napolitano, Program Coordinator</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
<span style='color:black'>Western Mass Jobs with
Justice
American Friends Service
Committee</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
<span style='color:black'>(413)
827-0301
(413) 584-8975<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><a href="mailto:wmspn@wmjwj.org">wmspn@wmjwj.org</a> <a
href="mailto:JNapolitano@afsc.org">JNapolitano@afsc.org</a> </span><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
WHAT: Rally
for Improved Medicare for All!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
An Action in Support of HR 676, Asking Rep. Neal to Co-sponsor HR 676<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-1.0in;line-height:
115%'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>WHERE:
</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Springfield
Federal Building<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-1.0in;line-height:
115%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
300 State Street, Springfield MA<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
WHEN:</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'>
Wednesday, May 27, 2009<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:115%'><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
Noon (12pm)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
BACKGROUND:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Community members and
constituents of U.S. Representative Richard Neal will be gathering outside of
his office Wednesday May 27 to demonstrate their support for HR 676, and ask
him to cosponsor it in Congress. HR 676, also known as the
“Improved Medicare for All” bill, would provide national,
single-payer healthcare to all U.S. citizens. Rep. Neal has been invited
to speak to the crowd, along with other healthcare professionals and leaders, regarding
his stance on healthcare reform.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Speakers at the rally will
include<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Gail Bean, Registered Nurse
at Western Mass. Hospital, and Region 1 Vice-Chair, Mass. Nurses Association;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>John Bennett, President,
Massachusetts Senior Action Council, and Retired Labor Educator & Historian;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Richard Brown, President,
Pioneer Valley Central Labor Council, and Union Representative, United Food
& Commercial Workers Local 1459; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Frances Borden Hubbard,
Project Director, Springfield Adolescent Health Project, and Retired Professor
of Black Studies, Labor Studies, and Public Administration at several
universities; and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dr. Andrew Larkin, former
Chair of the Ethics Committee at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Jackie Ballance, RN, will
read the Northampton City Council’s single payer health care reform
resolution urging Congressman Neal to co-sponsor HR 676. State
Representative Benjamin Swan will speak if the state legislature is not in
session. Previously announced Anne Awad, President/CEO, Caring Health
Center Inc, Springfield, will be unable to attend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This rally is taking place
in concert with hundreds of nation-wide events coordinated through
“Healthcare-NOW!” (<a href="http://www.healthcare-now.org">http://www.healthcare-now.org</a>).
These events all support the passage of HR 676, which is the bill introduced by
U.S. Representative John Conyers as a widely-recognized solution to the current
healthcare crisis.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>“Universal healthcare
is long overdue in this country,” states Jackie Ballance, Registered
Nurse, Northampton resident, and constituent of Rep. Neal. “Residents of
other industrialized countries do not face bankruptcy because of catastrophic
medical bills. Their families do not need to hold fundraisers to pay for a
child's cancer treatment. I’ve seen those things happen here every
day. Unless we have a seamless, comprehensive system of health care for
everyone, people will still fall through the cracks into financial disaster. We
can improve and expand Medicare to cover everyone from conception to the
grave.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>“I happen to be a proponent
of a single payer universal health care program. I see no reason why the United
States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, spending
14 percent of its Gross National Product on health care, cannot provide basic
health insurance to everybody … everybody in, nobody out. A single payer
health care plan, a universal health care plan. And that’s what I’d
like to see. But as all of you know, we may not get there immediately. Because
first we have to take back the White House, we have to take back the Senate,
and we have to take back the House,” stated Barack Obama, speaking to the
Illinois AFL-CIO, on June 30, 2003.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:110%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:110%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This rally is being
sponsored by the Western Massachusetts Single Payer Network (WMSPN). The
network is composed of the American Friends Service Committee, Berkshire
Mass-Care/PNHP, Desmond Callan Community Health Center, Franklin/Hampshire
Health Care Coalition, International Socialist Organization (Northampton),
League of Women Voters (Amherst), League of Women Voters of Northampton Area,
Massachusetts Nurses Association (Region 1), Massachusetts Public Health
Association (Western MA), Physicians for a National Health Plan (Western MA),
Progressive Democrats of America, Social Workers for Peace and Justice, United
Automobile Workers Local 2322, and Western Massachusetts Jobs with Justice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>TO UNSUBSCRIBE, send an email to wmjwj@wmjwj.org with a Subject of
"Unsub Health Care Action" or "Unsub Workers' Rights",
depending on which list you are on.<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>[Workers' Rights] posts opportunities for you to learn about and
show solidarity with workplace and working class struggles. And these events
are opportunities for JwJ members to fulfill their pledge: </span><span
style='color:black'><a href="http://www.jwj.org/pledge.html"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";text-decoration:none'>"</span><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I'll be there for
workers' rights at least five times a year!</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";text-decoration:none'>"</span></a></span><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> This is
the core mission of Jobs with Justice (</span><span style='color:black'><a
href="http://www.jwj.org/"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.jwj.org</span></a></span><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>),
affirming that workers' rights are human rights. To subscribe, send an email to
wmjwj@wmjwj.org with a Subject of "Subscribe Workers' Rights".<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'>[Health Care Action] posts events and information that support the
large and vibrant Western Mass. movement for health care justice. Nationwide,
Jobs with Justice (</span><span style='color:black'><a href="http://www.jwj.org"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.jwj.org</span></a></span><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>) has
prioritized Health Care as a basic human right. To subscribe, send an email to
wmjwj@wmjwj.org with a Subject of "Subscribe Health Care Action".<br>
<br>
Western Mass Jobs with Justice<br>
640 Page Blvd #101<br>
Springfield MA 01104<br>
(413) 827-0301 </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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