ABC encourages support of SCHIP reauthorization.

The Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) is encouraging Church of the Brethren members and congregations to support the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by contacting their congressional representatives and asking them to reauthorize the program before its Sept. 30 deadline. ABC is an agency providing publications and educational and faith opportunities that encourage the church to do caring ministries as the work of Jesus Christ.

With both houses of Congress approving bills to reauthorize and expand the program, legislators must now merge the bills before the Sept. 30 expiration. In 1997, Congress created SCHIP to provide insurance for children whose parents work but cannot afford health insurance. Today, 46 million people live in the US without adequate health insurance, and 9 million of those are children. Many legislators and organizations are calling for the SCHIP program to expand and include more recipients, which means increasing its funding. This week, the House and Senate both passed bipartisan bills with differing funding levels in support of SCHIP. President Bush indicated in May that he would veto any bill that expands the program.

ABC is calling attention to an update from the Children’s Defense Fund that highlights some differences in the bills, while encouraging those in support of SCHIP to contact their representatives. Links to the Children’s Defense Fund and others providing programs and resources about SCHIP are available at www.brethren-caregivers.org.

In April, both ABC and the Church of the Brethren General Board signed up to support the All Healthy Children Act with the Children’s Defense Fund. For the last four years, ABC also has been a partner organization to promote the Cover the Uninsured and "Covering Kids and Families" programs of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Contact senators and representatives by calling 888-226-0627 or at their home offices during the August break.

Source: 8/1/2007 Newsline