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ACTION ALERT
National Call-In Day for Children’s Health Care
Wednesday, March 21st
Congress is now working on the budget for 2008. We will be working over the next few weeks to remind Congress that a moral measure of the budget is how it treats poor and vulnerable people, at home and abroad.
As a first step, join in a National Call-In day for Children’s Health Care.
What: More than 9 million children in our country are uninsured. Millions of these children are eligible for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) or Medicaid but are not enrolled. During SCHIP reauthorization this year, we have a significant opportunity to ask Congress to improve and expand the program— so that all children in need have the health care they deserve.
Catholic Charities USA, the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, the Catholic Health Association and other Catholic organizations will be hosting in a national advocacy call-in day on Wednesday, March 21 st. You can participate by calling your members of Congress at the toll-free number below.
Action Needed: Call your Senators and Representatives toll-free at 1-877-509-KIDS . When you call, tell your member of Congress:
- Please make meeting the needs of poor and vulnerable people at home and abroad a top budget priority.
- Today, SCHIP provides high quality, vital health coverage to more than 4 million children in great need. The program reaches children whose families would otherwise be unable to afford health insurance.
- Congress must provide adequate funding so the millions of children currently enrolled in SCHIP can continue to get heath care.
- Congress must expand health care access to the millions of children still uninsured, who are eligible for SCHIP or Medicaid but not enrolled. To do this, states will need approximately $60 billion in new federal funds over the next five years.
Background: The Catholic community has consistently worked for access to affordable health care for all. The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, Catholic Charities USA and the Catholic Health Association have written to the House and Senate Budget Committees asking them to include funding in the FY 2008 budget resolution to maintain and expand health insurance coverage for children (attached).
For more information, please contact Kathy Curran, at 202-541-3188, kcurran@usccb.org.
Thank you for doing your part to guarantee health care for all children in need!
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