*** UPDATE: Feb. 2009 ***
For everyone who took action by urging your elected officials to pass SCHIP, we thank you. Your phone calls, letters and emails have made a difference, and you deserve the credit for your hard work and dedication!
The new Congress and administration have taken swift action to not only reform a health care system that is in crisis, but are working to take on an economic crisis which is leaving millions of working families without health insurance. This momentous piece of legislation ensures that millions of children will receive the health care they deserve. For yesterday’s legislative victory, Congress and the president deserve our thanks and support in their continued dedication to improving access to health care for all children.
HOW DID IL LEGISLATORS VOTE?
In particular, Sen. Durbin has been a strong advocate of SCHIP and continued his support by voting for the legislation along with his colleague, Sen. Burris. Unfortunately, Rep. Johnson did NOT respond to your pleas and decided to voice his opposition to SCHIP by twice voting against the legislation in the House. We encourage you to follow up with your senators by thanking them for their commitment to making sure children no longer go without health insurance. We know you will continue pushing your representative to join a health care reform movement that includes health insurance coverage for everyone.
*** UPDATE: January 2009 ***
Congress is preparing to vote (possibly as early as today) on a stand-alone State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill,which includes additional funding for states to expand their programs to more children.
We urge you to please call your Congressional representative to support SCHIP legislation that expands coverage to additional children!
Please read below for more information about the SCHIP legislation, and for how you can help by taking action today.
STATUS OF SCHIP LEGISLATION:
Champaign County Health Care Consumers was one of many groups fighting in 2007 and 2008 for the renewal and expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). SCHIP provides health care for children in working families that make too much to qualify for Medicaid, but who don’t make enough to afford costly private insurance. In 2006, SCHIP provided coverage for 6.6 million children.
The SCHIP program expired in September 2007, and despite Congress passing legislation TWICE that would renew and expand the program,President Bush vetoed both bills. In December 2007, Congress passed a temporary extension of SCHIP which extended the program through the end of March 2009.
This new Congress has decide to take swift action on renewing and expanding SCHIP, and the House of Representatives may be voting on the legislation this week, possibly as early as today!
Urge your member of Congress to support a strong and stable version of SCHIP that includes additional funding for states to expand their programs to more children, as well as elimination of the “five-year bar” to allow for immigrants residing legally in the United States to be eligible for coverage.
Legislation is expected to be voted on by the full House this week, so your action is urgently needed.