SCHIP’s Fate Rests in Washington

This past week I was honored to have been named one of Children at Risk's Legislators of the Year for work my office has done on the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Dr. Jeffrey Starke, chair of the board at Children at Risk and Chief of Pediatrics at Ben Taub Hospital, was kind enough to recognize me as "the father of CHIP in the state of Texas." It's because of the vigorous advocacy of groups like Children at Risk (whose website you can visit by clicking here) that we were able to partially restore CHIP in the legislature this past session. But we still have a long way to go to insuring every child in Texas, and right now the cause of children's health care faces a grave threat in Washington D.C.

That's because President Bush has threatened to veto a bipartisan reauthorization and expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program currently before Congress. Since 1997, SCHIP has provided health insurance for millions of children whose families make too much to qualify for Medicaid yet can't afford their own private coverage.

My office has spent the last few weeks sending letters to members of Congress about why it's so important they reauthorize and expand SCHIP. President Bush and members of Congress need to hear from you that any nation that places war over the health of our children has some seriously flawed priorities. Your telephone calls can make the difference in ensuring that millions of children have the health insurance they deserve.

• Call President Bush today (White House Comments Line: 202-456-1111) and tell him to support children's health care and to sign an expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

• Find your member of Congress by clicking here, and tell him/her to vote for an expansion of the States Children's Health Insurance Program and to override any presidential veto. 

The health of millions of children in this country depends on it.