Rep. Peter DeFazio Signs onto ‘Medicare for All’ Bill

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., issued the following news release:

Rep. Peter DeFazio today announced his support for H.R. 676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, which would establish a privately-delivered, publicly-financed universal health care system in the United States.

Rep. DeFazio issued the following statement on the bill:

"The defeat of the Ryan-Trump Freedom from Healthcare and Tax Cuts for the Rich Act--the so-called "American Health Care Act"--marks a potential turning point in a decades-long debate," said Rep. DeFazio (OR-04). "Although the Affordable Care Act has dramatically reduced the number of uninsured individuals, it has been in great need of improvement since day one. The bill that passed the House was far superior, with national exchanges and a government not-for profit option. In my opinion, the provision of a government-run, not-for-profit health plan would have paved the way to a single-payer system with more comprehensive coverage at a lower cost. I have introduced legislation that would establish such a plan.

"It is past time to explore all options that could improve Medicare and provide its benefits to all Americans. I am cosponsoring H.R. 676, the Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act in the hopes of engendering a serious discussion of single payer during the next election cycle."

Rep. DeFazio has long advocated moving the United States to a single-payer healthcare system. During the creation of the Affordable Care Act, Rep. DeFazio fought to include a provision in the bill that would have created a not-for-profit healthcare plan that would have competed alongside private industry; however, the provision was stripped from the bill in the Senate version. He has since introduced legislation to establish a public health insurance option in the national health insurance market.

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