Contact: Will Potter   (202) 822-7823

August 3, 2007

Senate Votes to Protect Health Insurance for Underprivileged Children

WASHINGTON—The Senate voted Thursday to renew the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and protect the health and well-being of millions of children. The 68-31 vote follows Wednesday’s passage of a similar bill in the House of Representatives to renew the program. Nationwide, 6.6 million children are covered under CHIP, which is designed to subsidize the cost of insurance for children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to buy private health insurance.

The following can be attributed to Reg Weaver, president of the National Education Association:

“All children deserve access to quality health care, just as all children deserve access to quality public schools. In fact, our members are well aware that the two are closely linked. By some estimates, there are nine million uninsured children in this country. If students don’t receive proper health care, they can’t come to class prepared to learn. We’re pleased that lawmakers have recognized that children’s health is an issue that all Americans care about, regardless of party lines." 

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee
organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education
faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.