Thank you Congressman Heck

Your front page article of Nov. 11 tells us that next year UW Medicine and Providence Medical Group will open four new primary and urgent care clinics in our area. Think of the many mothers and children who will receive ongoing routine as well as emergency care in these clinics.

Though our U.S. medical system still does not reach all families, we are blessed to live in a community that attempts to provide accessible health care. This is not the case for populations of other countries.

The world still loses 5.9 million children, under age 5 every year; that’s 11 children every minute. These deaths are largely from preventable causes, such as poor nutrition, lack of vaccines and pre/post-natal care.

A new bipartisan bill, introduced in both the House and Senate, aims to stop the unnecessary deaths of mothers and children globally. The REACH Every Mother and Child Act 2015, led by Washington’s own Rep. Reichert (R), and co-sponsored by our local Rep. Denny Heck (D), would ensure the U.S. does its part to help countries end preventable child and maternal deaths by 2035.

Without costing a penny, the REACH Act would strengthen and support the work of USAID, requiring clear targets, better accountability, and investment in the most effective strategies to save lives.

Thank you to Congressman Heck for signing on to the REACH Act! Now let’s urge all members of Congress to act quickly to pass these bi-partisan lifesaving bills, H.R. 3706 and S. 1911.

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 2:28 PM with the headline "Thank you Congressman Heck."