Children's Health Bill is an investment in America's future

Copyright 2009 HT Media Ltd.All Rights Reserved Targeted News Service

27 January 2009 Tuesday 12:51 AM EST

LENGTH: 414 words


TITLE: Children's Health Bill is an investment in America's future

Signature: Targeted News Service

DATELINE: WASHINGTON



The Union for Reform Judaism's Religious Action Center has issued the following communiqué:

Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, this morning, sent a letter to all members of the U.S. Senate to encourage rapid adoption of the State Children's Health Insurance Program ( Schip). Text of the letter follows:

Dear Senator:

I am writing on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, encompassing more than 900 congregations across North America, with a workforce of 1.5 million Reform Jews, inviting you to vote for the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009. It is also imperative that the final legislation Immigrant Children Health Improvement Act (ICHI), eliminating the cumbersome five-year waiting period for legal immigrant children and pregnant women to access services.

Founded in 1997 and credited with reducing the rate of uninsured children by almost a third, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (Schip) provides much needed health coverage to more than 7 million children across the America. Unfortunately, not all children who receive the benefit of Schip: 6 million of the 9 million children who are uninsured in this country to benefit Schip but not receiving benefits. With the expansion of this program in the Senate Bill Reauthorization, an additional 4 million children will benefit from coverage.

Schip is a key element of the program, access to quality, affordable, rescue and preventive care. A 2007 report of the health care organization Families USA found that children without insurance were 13 times less likely to have a relationship with a primary care doctor or clinic and were twice less likely to have seen a doctor for a visit. Children who have no health insurance are twice as likely to die from their injuries after being hospitalized than children who are insured.

Jewish tradition teaches, "By the breath of children, God maintains the world." In this spirit, we ask you to vote for the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 and make an investment in America's future by ensuring that 11 million children in America, including children of immigrants to receive health care they deserve. By investing in our children, we invest in the future of our nation.

Best regards,

/ S /

Rabbi David Saperstein

Contact: Kate Bigam, 202/387-2800, news@rac.org

Copyright Targeted News Service

TNS 23nq-JF78-090220-2232030 18MASHMaryJane

LOAD-DATE: February 23, 2009

Copyright © 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.. All rights reserved
Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy