HEALTH IS PRIMARY
A National Call to Elevate Health as a Governing Priority
Health must be treated as a core governing responsibility, regardless of ideology or party. Working together, we can build a healthier nation.
Seven Days in June is a decentralized, nonpartisan, grassroots-driven campaign to focus on how funding cuts will devastate local communities.
From June 1 to June 7, thousands of local organizations and activists will demand that candidates for federal and local office in 2026 clearly articulate how they will:
- Improve affordability and access to care and treatment.
- Sustain and strengthen biomedical research.
- Protect and modernize domestic and global public health infrastructure.
- Provide stability for seniors, veterans, rural communities, people with disabilities, working families and others reliant on accessible, affordable healthcare.
Local groups and advocates will organize town halls, panel discussions, candidate forums, demonstrations, marches, rallies, vigils, interfaith services, and other tactics, as appropriate for their organizations and communities.
Join us on June 5 at sunset in communities around the nation to hold candlelight vigils honoring everyone who has died as a result of cuts to healthcare.
Find An Event Near You
HEALTH IS PRIMARY
WHY THIS MOMENT MATTERS
Across the country, chronic diseases are affecting more Americans and account for the majority of U.S. health spending. Preventable conditions are too often detected late, compounding costs and suffering. Preventable disease outbreaks have re-emerged as vaccination rates have declined.
Strained public health workforces and disease surveillance systems are already near a breaking point. Reductions in biomedical research funding slows innovation and threatens future advances in prevention and treatment. Community hospitals and safety-net providers face mounting financial pressure.
Chaotic and inconsistent health investment carries real consequences. Short-term politics should not undermine long-term health security.
Sponsors of this initiative include:
- Organizations, leaders and advocates focused on heart, cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other chronic or life-threatening conditions
- Human rights and civil rights leaders
- Public health, healthcare workers and medical professionals
- Biomedical research institutions, academics and scientists
- Labor and workforce leaders
- Faith communities and faith-based service providers
- Senior, veteran and disability advocates and organizations
- Hospital and health system leaders
- Business and civic organizations
Health is not ideological. HEALTH IS PRIMARY.
Here’s What You Can Do:
- Endorse the Seven Days in June: HEALTH IS PRIMARY
- Organize or co-sponsor Town Hall meetings with health department officials, agency heads, service providers and elected officials to examine the impact of health cuts on your local communities.
- Demand clear and specific commitments from those running for office to protect and strengthen America’s health systems through candidate forums, questionnaires and published score cards.
- Participate in rallies, demonstrations, AIDS Memorial Quilt displays, social media campaigns, as appropriate for your organizations and communities.
- Celebrate your local “healthcare heroes,” the hard-working people whose skill and compassion are the backbone of America’s healthcare system.
- Reaffirm the centrality of compassion, empathy and service as core values of every faith tradition through interfaith solidarity.
- Gather at sunset on Friday, June 5 in communities around the nation to hold candlelight vigils honoring everyone who has died as a result of cuts to healthcare.
JUNE 1-7
HOST THE AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT
During the week-long Seven Days In June campaign, you can raise awareness and honor those we’ve lost to the HIV/AIDS crisis by hosting the AIDS Memorial Quilt in your community.