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Pass SCHIP Now!
  1. Signatures
    212 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. The U.S. Senate
  2. Created By
    Timothy Foley
    New York, NY
About this Petition Petition Letter
Why This Is Important

When Barack Obama was running for President, he said, “If there’s one thing all of us should be able to agree on, no matter what our political views, it’s that our children should get the treatment they need when they need it. And when I’m president, they will.”

He was talking about the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) -- a successful cooperative program between the federal government and the states that currently gives access to health care to nearly 7 million children.  Now that he is President, Congress needs to send him a bill to reauthorize SCHIP so it can continue covering kids -- and expand it to cover 4 million more. 

SCHIP is funded by the cigarette tax.  It's revenue neutral -- it won't cost more money in the budget to expand it.  It works.  And it protects our most precious resource:  our kids. 

The previous Congress passed this bill twice before with bipartisan support, only to have then-President Bush veto it.  It should be a no-brainer, particularly in these tough economic times.  Write to your Senator and Representative.  Tell them it's time to pass SCHIP -- NOW!

UPDATE:  1/14/08 -- SCHIP has passed in the House!  Please write to your Senators and ask them to vote on SCHIP when it comes before them.  It's time!

Recent Signatures

It's time to finally pass SCHIP

Dear Representative,

Our children are our most precious resource.  That's why it's so disappointing that 1 in 9 of our 47 million citizens who go must go without health insurance are children.

As a concerned citizen, I was heartened to see the reauthorization and expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program pass with Democrat and Republican votes not once but twice, and disturbed that it was twice vetoed.  We cannot wait any longer, particularly with so many families facing tough choices in this recession and in urgent need of help.

SCHIP has dedicated funding through the cigarette tax, making it revenue neutral.  It ensures 7 million kids already.  And at $7 billion per year, the expansion would be the equivalent of half a month in Iraq. 

President Obama said on the campaign trail, “If there’s one thing all of us should be able to agree on, no matter what our political views, it’s that our children should get the treatment they need when they need it."  He's exactly right.

Please pass the reauthorization and expansion of SCHIP as soon as possible, and convince your colleagues to do the same.

[Your name]