Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ “Medicare for All” proposal is coming back in a major way as Democratic presidential hopefuls begin stumping for 2020.
The government-funded health care system — strongly opposed by President Trump and fellow Republicans — would expand benefits beyond what is already offered under former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act. The legislation was first introduced in 2016 by Sanders, who said it would be another step toward achieving universal health care.
During a speech to officially launch her 2020 run, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., declared “health care is a fundamental right” and vowed to serve her constituents by supporting “Medicare for All.”
In August 2017, Harris became the first Senate Democrat to support Sanders’ “Medicare for All” bill.