ADVOCATES LAUNCH NATIONAL STROLLER BRIGADE AT U.S. CAPITOL TO DEMAND REAL CHILD HEALTH REFORM
CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND CHILD ADVOCATES LAUNCH NATIONAL STROLLER BRIGADE AT U.S. CAPITOL TO DEMAND REAL CHILD HEALTH REFORM
CDF President Marian Wright Edelman Calls on Congress to Not Leave Millions of Children Behind in Current Health Reform Debates
WHAT: CAPITOL HILL EVENT
Children, parents, grandparents and other child advocates are taking their walking shoes and baby strollers to converge on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol to demand that Congress ensure health reform legislation meets the needs of millions of uninsured and underinsured children in every state. The event is a kick-off to nationwide stroller rallies that will occur when members of Congress are home in their districts.
Lifelong child advocate, Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund, says that the reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) earlier this year was a good start, but that 8.1 million uninsured children – and millions more underinsured – are being left behind in health care reform. She says health reform legislation as drafted would not address the shortcomings, and that’s why she and others feel compelled to speak out loudly now – before it’s too late.
The Children’s Defense Fund, along with child advocates across the country, is kicking off an intensive effort with faith leaders, doctors and nurses, educators and others – calling upon President Obama and Congress to do three things to better ensure the health and well-being of
1. Significantly simplify the enrollment process for publicly funded health insurance, so that eligible children and their families will be able to easily secure government-sponsored coverage – much like the elderly and Medicare.
2. Guarantee that every child receiving publicly funded health insurance has access to the full range of health and mental health benefits, rather than the current system that provides more comprehensive benefits to the 29 million children on Medicaid than to the 4.8 million children enrolled in CHIP.
3. Provide a national health care safety net for all children whose family income is below 300 percent of the poverty level, to ensure they receive the health care they need and deserve.
DATE/LOCATION:
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 – 10:00 a.m. – Northwest Lawn of the
Date: November 5, 2009
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location:
Contact: Gerri Warren Merrick (917) 282-8110
Clarissa Driban Senior Media Relations Specialist ×€ Home Front Communications O: 202-544-4705 ×€ M: 215-939-7656
