NCJW Lauds Passage of Children's Health Insurance Bill
January 14, 2009, Washington, DC -- The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) today applauded reauthorization by the House of Representatives of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). NCJW President Nancy Ratzan released the following statement:
"Once again the House of Representatives has reauthorized and expanded the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). This the third attempt by the House to enact changes to SCHIP. Both houses of Congress have passed the bill twice before, only to have President Bush succeed in vetoing the legislation. The third time will be a charm; President-elect Obama has vowed to sign the bill.
"As passed by the House, SCHIP will allow states to cover children and families with incomes up to 300 percent of the poverty level, enrolling up to 4 million more children and adults in the program for a total of 11 million people. In addition, the House bill gives states the option to cover children and pregnant women lawfully residing in the US without requiring that they wait five years for needed health care. The expansion is a desperately needed upgrade of affordable health insurance for children and all the more critical in the current recession.
"NCJW has long supported improving SCHIP both for its critical role in ensuring that all children can receive necessary health care and as part of an ongoing effort to make health care affordable and accessible to all. We look forward to swift action by the Senate and by the new president that will finally get this job done."
The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.
Contact:
Emily Alfano
202 296 2588 x5; emily@ncjwdc.org