FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 4, 2007
For Media Assistance

Health Coverage for All Children Takes Important Next Step Toward Passage

Sacramento – As health care reform discussions gain momentum in Sacramento, support for insuring all children continues to move forward.  AB 1 (Laird & Dymally) and SB 32 (Steinberg) passed out of their respective Appropriations committees and will be taken up for votes on the floor of the Assembly and Senate this week.

Providing coverage to all children continues to be a top issue not just with legislators but with the public as well.  In a recent poll, conducted for The California Endowment by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and Public Opinion Strategies, 82 percent of registered voters agree that all children should have health coverage.  Seventy-six percent of voters were either extremely or very concerned about children not having health care coverage, more than any other health care related concern including the cost of health care.

“In poll after poll the public is speaking out loud and clear that all children should have access to health coverage,” said Jim Keddy, Director of PICO California.   “With important children’s health bills on the floor of the Assembly and the Senate, we’ll see if our legislators are ready to act upon the wishes of Californians and bring health coverage to all children and finding a way to fund it this year.  As our legislators move forward on their health care reform plans, covering all kids must be the top priority.  These bills give them the blueprint for how to make that happen.”

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The 100% Campaign, a collaborative effort of Children Now, Children's Defense Fund and The Children's Partnership, with primary funding from The California Endowment, was created to ensure that all of California's children obtain the health coverage they need to grow up strong and healthy.

The PICO California Project is the united effort of 20 California congregation-community organizations affiliated with the PICO National Network. Collectively, we represent 350 congregations and 400,000 families statewide and are actively organizing in over 70 cities in Northern and Southern California.

United Ways of California is a state association of local United Ways and is a strong advocate of finding a statewide solution to cover all kids in this state. United Ways work closely with local community and business leaders, legislators and others to promote this achievable and important goal.