The umbrella body for Jewish outreach groups urged constituents to lobby for a children’s health coverage bill that President Bush has vowed to veto.
“This week is a critical time for the Jewish community to make its voice heard on an issue that will affect millions of children across the country,” said the Jewish Council for Public Affairs action alert on a Senate bill that would renew and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. “Please call your Senators this week and urge them to vote YES on S.1893.”
The program helps states insure some 5 million children whose parents are uninsured but ineligible for Medicare. The Senate plan would expand the program from $30 billion to $65 billion to reach an estimated 4 million children who remain uncovered.
The Senate is set to vote on the expansion by Friday, before the congressional summer break. Similar legislation is under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Bush has vowed to veto the legislation, saying he favors retaining the insurance program, albeit with some cuts. He regards its expansion as creeping socialized medicine.
