Stark Introduces Amendment To U.S. Constitution Guaranteeing Health Care
Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) on Thursday introduced H.J. Resolution 30, which would amend the U.S. Constitution to guarantee health care as a right to U.S. citizens, the Oakland Tribune reports. The resolution, which is co-sponsored by 27 Democrats in the House, would amend the constitution to state that "all persons shall enjoy the right to health care of equal high quality."
To take effect, the House and Senate must approve the amendment by a two-thirds majority, and three-fourths of the states must then ratify it. The U.S. Constitution has been amended 17 times in 215 years.
Other versions of the amendment have been introduced in four previous sessions of Congress (Vesely, Oakland Tribune, 3/4).