VICTORY! State Child Health Insurance Bill Passes Senate

Take Action Now for House Passage

January 30, 2009

The Senate passed the bipartisan SCHIP bill 66-32 and the House will soon consider whether to pass the Senate version and send SCHIP to the President for signature.

Ask your Representative to vote for this bill one more time and send a resounding message of support for our nation's low-income children.

Background:

On Thursday Jan. 29, the Senate reauthorized the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in a rousing show of bipartisan support. Sixty-six senators, including nine Republicans voted to provide coverage for millions more children in this vital health care bill, including immigrant children who are citizens or legal residents.

The House will vote on the Senate version very soon and the final bill will be on President Obama's desk next week for his signature. Please send an email to your Representative now. Our website will generate a Thank You message for the 289 Representatives who voted last week for the House bill and will ask the 139 House members who voted against SCHIP to consider supporting the bill for the sake of the millions of children who need access to health insurance coverage now. You will have an opportunity to personalize the message if you wish.

NOW activists should be proud of this important victory, which is a first step towards insuring all children and adults as part of an affordable universal, single-payer health care system. Right now, millions are losing their health coverage as parents lose their jobs and health insurance. The long-term consequences will be disastrous.

In addition to immediately covering immigrant children who are legally residing in our country, this legislation includes SCHIP coverage for pregnant immigrant women whose children will be born as U.S. citizens. NOW, working with our partners in the National Coalition for Immigrant Women's Rights, has pushed hard for these provisions to remain in the bill.

ACT NOW!

More Information:

Senate Urged to Follow House Lead and Pass Inclusive SCHIP Bill