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“Care Force One” Crisscrossed the Nation to Demand Lower Costs & Better Care For All Americans

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September 7, 2021
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HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, U.S. Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Peter Welch, (D-VT-AL), Matt Cartwright (D-PA-08), Annie Kuster (D-NH-02), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-AL), Charlie Crist (D-FL-13), Val Demings (D-FL-10), Darren Soto (D-FL-09), Susan Wild (D-PA-07), Katie Porter (D-CA-45), and Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) Along With State & Local Elected Officials and Storytellers Headlined “Care Force One” Stops In 16 States 

Washington, DC — Last week, Protect Our Care’s 8,600-mile, 31-event, 16-state “Lower Costs, Better Care” bus tour came to a close after “Care Force One” drove from Maine to California to demonstrate the urgent need to lower health costs including for drugs and insurance premiums, expand coverage, and reduce racial disparities in care. Events were headlined by 13 members of Congress, 40 state and local elected officials, and 42 health care advocates and storytellers. Throughout the tour, national and local elected officials promoted the work of President Biden and their Democratic colleagues who are leading the charge to advance American health care. Coverage makes clear American families are demanding relief and want lawmakers to act now so health care is a right, not a privilege. 

“With President Biden and Democrats’ Build Back Better agenda, America has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve health care by lowering costs and expanding coverage for millions of Americans,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “The combination of lowering prescription drug costs by giving Medicare the power to negotiate with drug companies, closing the Medicaid expansion coverage gap, permanently extending premium tax credits that were expanded in the American Rescue Plan, and adding benefits for dental, vision and hearing in Medicare would do the most to improve American health care since the Affordable Care Act passed more than a decade ago. As the coverage of ‘Care Force One’ proves, Americans want better health care and lower costs and with the leadership of President Biden and Congressional Democrats, we’ll soon get the job done.” 

Watch All Bus Tour Stops Here

MAINE

Care Force One traveled to Bangor and Portland for events with Attorney General Aaron Frey, State Sen. Troy Jackson, State Rep. Joe Perry, State Sen. Stacy Brenner, State Rep. Colleen Madigan, and health care advocates. 

Coverage: 

VERMONT

Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT-AL) and Lt. Gov. Molly Gray headlined the “Lower Costs, Better Care” bus tour stop in Burlington. 

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NEW HAMPSHIRE

U.S. Representative Annie Kuster (D-NH-02) joined health care advocates for the bus tour stop in Concord. 

Coverage:

PENNSYLVANIA

Care Force One made stops in Allentown, Wilkes-Barre, and Pittsburgh for events headlined by Congresswoman Susan Wild (D-PA-07), Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-PA-08) and State Rep. Jessica Benham. 

Coverage

NEW JERSEY

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), State Sen. Loretta Weinberg, and Assemblyman John McKeon joined health care advocates for bus tour events in Teaneck, New Brunswick, and Burlington County. 

Coverage

DELAWARE

During stops in Wilmington and Dover, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and State Treasurer Colleen Davis headlined events with State Senator Kyle Evans Gay, and State Representative Mimi Minor Brown and United Way of Delaware President & CEO Michelle Taylor. 

Coverage

WEST VIRGINIA

Care Force One made stops in Morgantown and Charleston for events with Senator Richard Lindsay, Delegate Barbara Fleischauer, Delegate John Williams, Delegate Evan Hansen, Delegate Mike Pushkin, Delegate Kayla Young, and health care advocates. 

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OHIO

Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, Youngstown Health Commissioner Erin Bishop, and Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein joined health care advocates for bus tour events in Youngstown and Columbus. 

Coverage

WISCONSIN

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul headlined events with State Senator Melissa Agard, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and local advocates during stops in Milwaukee and Madison. 

Coverage

NORTH CAROLINA

Care Force One made stops in Raleigh and Charlotte for events with Charlotte City Councilman Malcolm Graham, Senator Jay Chaudhuri, Senator Natalie Murdock, and health care advocates.

Coverage:

GEORGIA

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, State Senator Sonya Halpern, State Representative Rebecca Mitchell, and State Representative Derek Mallow joined health care advocates for events in Atlanta and Savannah. 

FLORIDA

U.S. Representatives Darren Soto (D-FL-09), Val Demings (D-FL-10), Charlie Crist (D-FL-13), and Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) headlined events in Orlando and Tampa. 

Coverage:

COLORADO

U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) joined State Senator Julie Gonzales, State Representative Iman Jodeh and health care advocates for an event in Denver. 

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ARIZONA

Flagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy, State Representative Kelli Butler, and State Senator Kirsten Engel joined health care advocates for events in Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson. 

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CALIFORNIA

During stops in San Diego and Orange County, U.S. Representatives Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) and Katie Porter (D-CA-45) headlined events with Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan and health care advocates.

 

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NEVADA

The “Lower Costs, Better Care” tour wrapped in Las Vegas, Nevada, with an event featuring State Representative Fabian Donate and State Assemblyman Edgar Flores. 

For more information on the Protect Our Care “Lower Costs, Better Care” Bus Tour visit https://www.protectourcare.org/bus-tour/.

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