This week - possibly as early as Wednesday -
the U.S. House of Representatives is expected
to vote on the reauthorization of SCHIP.
Since 2007, the U.S. House has voted three
times in an effort to reauthorize this
vitally important program that provides
health care coverage to six million children,
but sufficient votes were not garnered to
override President Bush's vetoes of this
successful state-federal public program.
The House is acting quickly to ensure that
more children have access to health care
services in a time of economic uncertainty
for many families. The current bill that is
under discussion is a critical first step
toward ensuring that more of the nine million
children currently without health care are
able to acquire medical coverage.
Voices for Michigan's Children is pleased to
see a new commitment to the needs of children
and their families under President-elect
Obama's administration and the 111th
Congress. But lawmakers must keep in mind
that this temporary "bridge" to reducing the
number of uninsured children must not turn
into a "bridge to nowhere." President-elect
Obama and Congress must make a greater
commitment to invest in the health care needs
of children as the health care reform debate
continues.
Here's Our Opportunity: Once again, we have
the opportunity to ensure that members of the
House vote in support of the reauthorization
of SCHIP. However, it is critical to remind
our federal elected officials that
reauthorization of SCHIP provides a much
needed first step to reducing the number of
uninsured children living in the United
States. We need bolder federal actions to
ensure that ALL of our children have
comprehensive health care coverage.
Take Action Now
Call your House offices and relay these messages:
1. Vote "AYE" in support of SCHIP, which will
provide health insurance coverage to
uninsured children and their families in a
time of economic uncertainty.
2. Reauthorization of SCHIP is a critical
first step but we need bolder federal actions
to ensure that ALL of our children have
comprehensive health care coverage.
You may reach your House Members by calling
the Capital Hill switchboard at
1-866-277-7617 and asking the switchboard
operator to connect you to your Member's
congressional office.
