WHEREAS, nearly 44 million Americans, a number equal to the combined population of 24 states, have no healthcare insurance; and

WHEREAS, there are more than 8.5 million children in America who are without any health coverage; and

WHEREAS, almost all uninsured persons, eight out of every ten, are from working families; and

WHEREAS, nearly 27,000 of our working neighbors in Leon County are without health insurance, and

WHEREAS, uninsured Americans do not have access to preventative healthcare, and as a result are sick more often, and die younger, than those of us who do have preventative health insurance coverage; and

WHEREAS, uninsured Americans have no other options when ill but to utilize emergency healthcare services, which burdens our emergency care infrastructure and makes overall healthcare costs more expensive for everyone; and

WHEREAS, rising costs make it harder for working families to afford healthcare coverage, and more difficult for employers to offer healthcare benefits to their employees.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS that the week of May 9 to 15, 2004 be hereby declared

in Leon County, Florida. We join with working families, healthcare professionals, and human service advocates across the country in seeking solutions to one of America’s greatest economic problems.

DATED THIS 11^th DAY OF MAY, A.D., 2004.