STATEMENT by Geoconda Argüello-Kline regarding the Nevada Public Option (SB420):

ONLINE / TWEET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Tuesday, May 4th, 2021 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088 

STATEMENT by Geoconda Argüello-Kline regarding the Nevada Public Option (SB420): 

The Culinary Union supports Senate Bill 420 with the conceptual amendment because we believe that health care is a human right - this bill is a good first step towards making sure that all Nevadans get quality and affordable healthcare. We know that Nevada has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country, which this bill addresses by creating a public option for working families who are either not eligible for a health care plan or simply can’t afford it. 

In addition, the conceptual amendment for this bill would allow the Culinary Health Fund (CHF) to participate in the program, which allows the CHF to continue to take care of participants if they were to lose health care benefits. This is important because it would allow Culinary Union members and their dependents to continue to see their same doctors, not face a gap in much-needed treatments, and have access to the same prescriptions and specialists, instead of having to start over with a brand-new insurer if they were to lose coverage. 

The Culinary Union applauds Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro for bring this bill forward and urges the Nevada Legislature to support and pass SB420.

ABOUT CULINARY UNION:

Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of the casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 300,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America. 

The Culinary Union, through the Culinary Health Fund, is one of the largest health care consumers in the state. The Culinary Health Fund is sponsored by the Culinary Union and Las Vegas-area employers. It provides health insurance coverage for over 145,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members and their dependents.  

The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest Latinx/Black/AAPI/immigrant organization with members who come from 178 countries and speak over 40 different languages. We are proud to have helped over 18,000 immigrants become American citizens and new voters since 2001 through our affiliate, The Citizenship Project.  

The Culinary Union has a diverse membership which is 55% women and 45% immigrants. The demographics of Culinary Union members are approximately: 54% Latinx, 18% white, 15% Asian, 12% Black, and less than 1% Indigenous Peoples.  

Culinary Union members work as: Guest room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, bartenders, laundry and kitchen workers. The Culinary Union has been fighting for working families in Nevada for 86 years.

CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226 

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