Testimony on SJR 12 and HJR 14 – Hope Amendment
Members of the Committee, the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians has adopted policy in support of the notion that health care is a human right. In that spirit, we applaud the intent of this legislation, and we support the robust conversation the public will have should this bill pass, and should the debate move to the statewide ballot.
We are aware that this year includes unique challenges for the legislature to face, given the compounded crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis affecting the ability of the state to manage competing worthy demands on the budget. However, we believe that this bill is an appropriate next step in Oregon’s journey toward ensuring better health for all Oregonians.
If the measure passes on the ballot, we then would look for other steps from the legislature to make this vision meaningful.