Barbara Lee Holds Press Conference on Children's Health Care
Rep. Barbara Lee, leaders from OCO, and other local child health care groups gathered the day after the house democrats failed to gather enough votes to override bushes veto of increasing funds to expand the children's health insurance program known as SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program). The groups voiced frustration and stated the fight is far from over at the press conference held at Children's Hospital Oakland.
"It's unfortunate what happened yesterday," said Lee, D-Oakland, referring to falling 13 votes short of overriding the veto Thursday. Some members of Congress "would rather stand with the president than with the children of the nation."
The SCHIP Program currently subsidizes coverage for about 6 million children at a cost of about $5 billion a year. The vetoed bill would have added 4 million more children, mostly from low-income families, at a cost of $7 billion annually. About 600,000 adults also participate in the program.
OCO leader Guadalupe Barrera, spoke during the press conference, she is a mother of five. Barrera has been trying for years to get her children health care through SCHIP, but has been unsuccessful. "I want to share my great sadness with President Bush's veto of not just a bill, but our children," Barrera said. Her struggles of trying to pay rising medical bills for her five children, one afflicted with asthma, has to sometimes rely on medication from her friends whose children are insured and also suffer from asthma.
Rev. Cummings, OCO Co-Chair, shared at the press conference how his granddaughter is covered thru SCHIP. Lee along with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, plans on regrouping and reintroducing the bill to with the bottom line being coverage of 10 million children.
SCHIP: State Children's Health Insurance Program
"Bless all children, cover all children" has been our call since we began our work for quality, affordable children's health care. With SCHIP set to expire, OCO leaders have been working diligently with our PICO partners to secure significant funding for the SCHIP program and we are at a critical moment. The House and Senate have approved bipartisan legislation for $35 billion in funding that would cover an additional 4 million uninsured children. President Bush has vetoed the bill.
We are encouraging all PICO congregations and allies to participate in our Compassion Sabbath/Sunday, even those in districts represented by Members of Congress who voted yes. This will demonstrate the breadth of support for SCHIP in the faith community, allow us to act collectively as a network and encourage people to contact their friends and relatives who are represented by Congresspersons who voted against SCHIP.
We encourage you to call your Congressperson using PICO's toll-free hotline 866-633-6432. Tell your Representative to vote YES to override the President's veto of bi-partisan legislation to cover 4 million uninsured children.
Visit PICO's Cover All Children website for more information http://www.coverallchildren.org
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