FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 25, 2007
For Media Assistance

Statement from Californians for Healty Kids on Passage of Bipartisan SCHIP Reauthorization Bill in House of Representative

Dissapointed that House vote is not veto proof

SACRAMENTO, California – Californians for Healthy Kids issued the following statement today regarding passage of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization bill in the House of Representatives:

"We are pleased that the House of Representatives passed a new bipartisan compromise SCHIP reauthorization bill today, which would provide $35 billion in additional funding for the program over the next five years.  This bill would ensure that 10 million children across the nation get the health care services they need to grow up healthy and strong.

"While SCHIP reauthorization legislation has enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support from the majority of legislators, 43 Governors (Republican and Democrat), and the public, we are disappointed that this vote fell short of a veto-proof majority.

"This makes the situation in the nation, and California, very precarious, with financing for the program in limbo.  Without this reauthorization bill, many children are at risk of losing coverage.

"Children are losing health insurance every day – 2,000 a day nationally. Without passage of a strong SCHIP reauthorization package, more than 250,000 California children could lose health coverage in the near future.”

"This strong bipartisan investment will ensure that more than 250,000 California children will be prevented from losing their health coverage, and tens of thousands of uninsured children already eligible, will be able to now enroll in the low-cost insurance program.”

###

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.