Thanks for saving our SCHIP
by Beth
On February 4, 2009, the reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was signed into law by President Barack Obama. Your advocacy and on-going support now make health insurance coverage possible for 11 million uninsured children from low-income working families, including children with autism and other disabilities.
SCHIP was a top legislative priority here at Easter Seals during the two years the legistlation was debated in the House and the Senate. Easter Seals advocates sent over 6,000 emails and faxes to Congress, and SCHIP reauthorization was the message that over 300 clients, staff and volunteers took to their members of Congress for Capitol Hill Day, in October of 2007.
Keeping this program available and adequately funded has taken on a new importance in recent months — one million children enrolled in Medicaid and SCHIP in the 12 months ending October 2008 as a result of lost parental employment. The difficult economic conditions only make this program all the more important to struggling families and communities. Thank you for all you did to help get it signed!