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.

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 issue or a Republican issue, but a human issue that should be entitled to all Americans; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

, That we hereby recognize and congratulate Senator Barack Obama on winning the general election for the Presidency of the United States of America.

RESOLVED

, That we, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, invite President-elect Obama to visit Philadelphia, during the month of January 2009, on his way to his inauguration, to address the people of Philadelphia by informing citizens how we can help him realize the promise of affordable and accessible health care for all.

RESOLVED FURTHER,

That by taking this action, this body will join with the Illinois House of Representatives, City Council of Chicago, Detroit City Council, Columbus City Council, Pittsburgh City Council, and Baltimore City Council in making similar requests that will create an affordable health care tour leading up to President-Elect Obama’s inauguration.

FURTHER RESOLVED

, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to President-elect Obama as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End