CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION supporting the Whole Washington State Universal Healthcare Initiative.
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WHEREAS, Article 25 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets forth that "Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control establishes a fundamental right to healthcare1"; and
WHEREAS, in Washington State, 430,0002 have no health coverage and even more residents are underinsured, and lives would be saved by ensuring universal access to healthcare; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the negative ramifications of tying
healthcare to employment; and
WHEREAS, the Whole Washington Health Trust bill, sponsored by seven Washington State
Senators, guaranteeing a non-profit, universal healthcare system for all Washingtonians, with a funding mechanism devised by a noted economist3, reviewed by the Department of Revenue and the Employment Securities Department, demonstrates that Washington State residents will save billions of dollars annually when universal healthcare is implemented; and
WHEREAS, the passage of I-1471 in Washington State will support the state and national
efforts to establish Medicare for All: in December, 2021 the Washington State Universal Health Care Commission was established to further study implementation in this state and in May of 2022 15 U.S. Senators introduced a Medicare for All Act, endorsed by "more than 60 major organizations" across the U.S.4; and
WHEREAS, the January 15, 2021 Universal Health Care Work Group's report to the
Washington State Legislature included "Option A," "which found that a state-governed and administered program for all state...
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