FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 12, 2007
For Media Assistance

President Bush Leaves Children's Health Out in the Cold Once Again

SACRAMENTO, CA – With today's SCHIP veto, the President once again puts at risk the more than one million children currently covered by California's SCHIP program, known as the Healthy Families Program. SCHIP, which has proven extremely effective and popular since it began in 1997, has provided essential, low-cost health insurance to millions of uninsured children across the country.

"We are incredibly disappointed to see the President stand in the way of health coverage for ten million low-income children," said Ted Lempert, President of Children Now.

California's elected officials, faith leaders, healthcare providers, teachers, business leaders, and families overwhelmingly support ensuring that more children in working families have access to SCHIP coverage so that they can grow up healthy and strong.

States need federal action now. Without additional SCHIP funding, 21 states -- including California, which has the largest SCHIP program -- will face a total shortfall of $1.6 billion in FY 2008, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Lempert continued, "Without an immediate, fully funded extension of SCHIP, states like California may be forced to drop children from health coverage as early as next month."

In addition to full funding, it is essential that Congress postpone enactment of any SCHIP policy changes until a full debate about SCHIP reauthorization is possible. This includes the new restrictions issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that could limit coverage for children in 23 states, including over 35,000 California children.

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.