ASBC Member Joins Senator Bernie Sanders
in Announcing “Medicare for All”
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced legislation this week to expand Medicare into a national single-payer plan. 16 senators have co-sponsored so far, with more than 100 U.S. representatives signing a similar bill in the House. Single-payer would guarantee access to every American while cutting aggregate U.S. healthcare costs by more than 30% to match the rest of the developed world. It would protect individual businesses—particularly small businesses—from soaring insurance rates and mandates.
ASBC has been a leader in building business support for a single-payer plan. Richard Master, CEO of MCS Industries (an ASBC member), took the podium with Bernie Sanders in announcing the bill. To learn more about ASBC’s work on healthcare, see our release.
To take action, sign onto our campaign and take our business healthcare survey.
Senator Sanders will speak at SustyBiz 17, our annual business and policy summit. Register Today!
What’s New
Deadline Sept. 27: Tell EPA to Keep the Clean Water Rule
EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers have extended the period for public comments on the proposed first step of the review of the Clean Water Rule until September 27, 2017. Stand up for continued efforts to bring us clean, safe drinking water: Send your comment to the EPA today and urge it to protect the Clean Water Rule.
Pricing Carbon – A Market Approach to Tackle Climate Change
Two senators leading climate change action, Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) and Brian Schatz (HI), joined ASBC’s September 14th teleconference with several hundred businesses. The lawmakers explained how their ‘American Opportunity Carbon-Fee Act’ would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while stimulating the economy. They asked business leaders to urge Congress to tackle climate change now and participate in the U.N. Climate Summit in Germany in November.
A Clean Environment is Good for Business: Defend the EPA!
ASBC has kicked off a new campaign to help businesses tell Congress that the work of the EPA is vital to their bottom line. The Trump Administration has proposed cutting the EPA budget by almost 30%, which would severely undermine EPA’s efforts to ensure clean air and water, limit climate change, and protect the public from harmful chemicals. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) recently joined ASBC members and partners to talk about the critical services EPA provides and to encourage business leaders to speak up. Join our campaign to protect EPA funding.
SUSTYBIZ 17 – ASBC Names SUSTY Award Winners
ASBC’s annual Summit (Washington DC, October 22-24) includes the presentation of our annual Sustainable Policymakers Leadership Awards to legislators and others who have championed policies fostering a more sustainable economy. Awards will honor Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Senator Angus King, Congressman Elijah Cummings, Naturepedic, and Holly Sklar of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage. Register for SUSTYBIZ 17 by September 15th and save $100!
Businesses Score a Win for Ingredient Disclosure in California
Members of ASBC’s Companies for Safer Chemicals Coalition saw a huge win this week with the California Assembly passing “The Cleaning Product Right to Know Act” (SB 258) in a bipartisan vote of 54-11. The Honest Company, Seventh Generation, Earth Friendly Products, Beautycounter and several other members all helped lobby to ensure this favorable vote. It is now on its way to the governor’s desk. Thanks to everyone who has shown support and acted!
Deadline Sept. 21: Protect Our Open Internet!
On behalf of over 500 businesses, ASBC has filed a statement urging the FCC to preserve Title II net neutrality and maintain our fair, open and competitive Internet. ASBC will target relevant Congressional committees when the comment period ends September 21, so please sign on and add your business voice today.