NAEYC Children’s Champions

September 21 , 2007

CALL CONGRESS & TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO SUPPORT CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE

CALL CONGRESS TODAY & TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO SUPPORT CHILDREN’S HEALTH CARE 1-866-544-7573 (toll free)

As early childhood educators, we know the importance of healthy development for children's overall development and learning. Next week, Congress will vote on the State Children's Health Care Program (SCHIP), which now provides quality, affordable health care to 6 million children whose parents work, but can't afford insurance. With SCHIP, kids get doctor visits, medicine and the care they need. Without Congressional action, SCHIP will expire at the end of September.

The bill expected to come up next week will cover 4 million children who would otherwise lack health insurance. Members of Congress need to stand up for those 4 million kids, and protect all the other children now covered by SCHIP.

The vote is expected in the House on Tuesday and then in the Senate.

ACTION NEEDED:

Email or call your members of Congress (1-888-544-7573) and tell them to vote FOR an SCHIP bill that ensures coverage of at least 4 million children who will otherwise be uninsured and protects those now covered by SCHIP and to OPPOSE President Bush's threatened veto.

To find your Members of Congress, go to our website at www.naeyc.org/policy, click on Action Center, and enter your zip code.

Your call is important because President Bush has again threatened to veto the bill, which would deny coverage to four million children. His proposal would even go so far as to deny coverage to another 800,000 children who are now insured by SCHIP. It will take at least a two-thirds vote for Congress to show the President it will reject his ill-considered veto. Please call.

Thanks to Services Employees International Union (SEIU) for the toll-free number.

NAEYC: Comments on Major Legislation in 2005

CCDBG (Child Care & Development Block Grant)

Head Start

Higher Education