Bush Should Sign SCHIP Bill, Hispanic Leaders Say

Hispanic leaders are urging president Bush to sign the current SCHIP legislation in a statement released Friday,. The President and CEO of the National Alliance for Heatlh, Dr. Jane L. Delgado, said," "We agree with Senator Orrin Hatch, one of the fathers of the SCHIP program who said, 'Covering
these children is worth every cent."

"The Senate and House have voted for the children of America's laboring families, but now it is time to get the job done! Mr. President, you will make a lasting difference for America's families by signing SCHIP legislation being delivered to your desk by Congress," continued Dr.Delgado.

Reauthorization legislation for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was passed by an overwhelming majority in the Senate on September 27th, and was passed earlier in the week in the House of Reprsentative. Bi-partisan support was apparent each time. In the Senate, the vote was 67-29 in favor of reauthorization, and in the House, 265-159. The bill is now being prepared to send to the President.

The Alliance praises Congress on several parts of legislation, among them the retention of a tobacco tax to cover costs, and the inclusion of a 75% federal match of state funds used for limited English outreach campaigns.

"We congratulate Congress on taking action to reauthorize SCHIP, but the clock is ticking. Millions of working families will lose health insurance for their children, unless the President signs the bill before the program expires on September 30th -- a step the President should take for America's laboring families," urged Dr. Delgado.

Delgado also addressed the Alliance's concern for the coverage of legal immigrant children, a controversial topic. "While we are disappointed that the final
legislation did not eliminate the 5-year ban for receiving Medicaid or SCHIP for legal immigrant children, we are confident that states will continue to use state-only funds to cover the 200,000 to 300,000 children that are affected by the ban which will stay in effect."

"We look forward to the President continuing his commitment to children by signing SCHIP legislation this weekend," Dr. Delgado said in conclusion.

President Bush has said that he would veto reauthorization of SCHIP over concerns of middle-income families dropping private insurance. Epanded eligibility guidelines would make it possible for families making up to 300% of the federal poverty level to qualify. The National Alliance for Hispanic Health is an advocate for Hispanic health, representing thousands of Hispanic health providers providing services to more than 14 million individuals in the United States.

SOURCE:

National Alliance for Hispanic Health, Hispanic Leaders Urge President Bush to Sign SCHIP Bill , PR Newswire