The UCC, in partnership with a large and diverse interfaith coalition is joining protest to prayer in calling for health care reform. Learn more.

H1N1 Checklist for Congregations
Check out the resources we've compiled for parish nurses and congregational leaders dealing with H1N1 in their communities.

New study finds 45,000 deaths annually linked to lack of health coverage
Nearly 45,000 annual deaths are associated with lack of health insurance, according to a new study published online today by the American Journal of Public Health. That figure is about two and a half times higher than an estimate from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2002.

The Strollers are Coming to Capitol Hill
The Children’s Defense Fund is organizing “Champions for Children” Stroller Brigade in the nation’s capitol to tell congress and the President that real health reform for children means accessible, affordable and comprehensive care for all children no matter where they live.

National Day of Remembrance and Hope
Faithful Reform in Health Care and its member organizations will sponsor a National Day of Remembrance and Hope to tell the stories of the victims of U.S. health care and remember them in prayer on October 20 at the National Christian Church Washington, DC.  Local Congregations across the country are asked to Observe this Day of Remembrance on Sunday, October 18th.

"I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process. It will be hard. But I also know that nearly a century after Teddy Roosevelt first called for reform, the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and the conscience of our nation long enough. So let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year."  -President Barack Obama, Feb. 24, 2009

UCC GENERAL SYNOD PASSES RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE REFORM AS IN H. R. 676!

On June 26, 2009, the Twenty-Seventh UCC General Synod passed a resolution calling for advocacy in support for Health Care For All, as in H. R. 676. 

H. R. 676 (Improved and Expanded Medicare for All) is a bill introduced by Congressman John Conyers of Michigan to create a single-payer, publicly financed, privately delivered universal health care system.  Its goal is to cover all Americans without charging co-pays or deductibles and guarantees access to the highest quality and most affordable healthcare services regardless of employment, ability to pay or pre-existing health conditions.

While the United Church of Christ is now on record as in support of this plan, and while we believe that H. R. 676 is the plan that best embrace the moral and justice imperatives to transform our broken health care system, we recognize that lawmakers are considering other plans for implementation.  Therefore, the United Church of Christ will affirm its support for the inclusion of a robust public health option that includes the following principles: 1) Universal – it covers all persons; 2) Is affordable for all; 3) provides comprehensive benefits; 4) offers a choice of physicians and other health providers; 5) eliminates racial, ethnic and all other disparities for health care; and 6) waives pre-existing health conditions and does not further impose financial barriers to health care.

The United Church of Christ goes on record now in advocating for and supporting legislation to be passed by the fall of 2009 by the 111th Congress and its signing by the President of the United States which meets the above principles.

The President and Congress need to hear from you today!  The House bill is expected to be completed by the end of July and the Senate will follow.  Please call your lawmaker today and express the urgency that we need a strong public health option that includes the principles listed above.  Call Toll Free TODAY!  1-888-797-8717.