Federal Policy Updates
Families USA: Health Care Danger!
Each week, another 44,230 Americans lose health coverage. That adds up to a staggering 2.3 million people losing coverage per year.
These findings are from a new report released by Families USA, The Clock Is Ticking: More Americans Losing Health Coverage, which further makes the case for the urgency of action on health reform.
This new report provides the first ever state-by-state data on the number of people who are expected to lose health coverage between the beginning of 2008 and the end of 2010. Numbers are broken down per week, per month, and per year.
Read about the report and leave your own comments:
http://www.standupforhealthcare.org/coverage
Families USA alert: Critical Time for Health Reform!
Last week we asked you to send letters to the editor of your local newspapers. You responded by sending nearly 2,000 letters across the country sharing your personal reasons about why health reform can’t wait.
Now it’s time to take that message to Congress.
Today and tomorrow are National Call-In Days. It's the time to tell Congress that quality, affordable coverage should be available to all Americans. We want to flood their phone lines with calls demanding passage of health care reform.
Please call 866-210-3678 and ask to speak to your Representatives.
Click here for talking points and to report back about how the call went:
http://www.standupforhealthcare.org/CallCongress
The House and the Senate have drafted legislation and committees in each chamber are working hard to finalize their bills. July and August are especially crucial for health care reform. This is the time when your members of Congress will make their decisions about the legislation.
You don’t need to be in Washington to be in the front row for this excitement. All you need is a phone.
It’s easy. Today and tomorrow, pick up the phone and dial 866-210-3678 and urge your member of Congress to pass health care reform.
Report back to us here:
http://www.standupforhealthcare.org/CallCongress
As millions of Americans already know, health care reform is urgent and cannot wait another day. Costs are out of control, insurance companies don’t always play fair, and even Americans with coverage are falling through the cracks.
Congress must act now but they will only do so if they hear from their constituents.
Thank you for participating and as always, standing up for health care.
Sincerely,
Julia Eisman, eAdvocacy Coordinator
Home Visiting Included in House Draft of Health Reform
Following a June 9th House panel reviewing evidence-based home visitation programs, the tricommittee bill advances President Obama’s proposal to provide 450,000 low-income families with voluntary home visiting services by the end of the decade.
Included in the draft health bill is a significant portion of the Early Support for Families Act (H.R. 2667), legislation offered by Congressmen Jim McDermott (D-WA), Danny Davis (D-IL) and Todd Russell Platts (R-PA). The tricommittee draft would provide $1.75 billion of mandatory spending over the next five years to support states in “establishment and expansion of quality programs providing voluntary home visitation services for families with young children and families expecting children.”
The Senate Finance Committee, working jointly with the HELP Committee, is still drafting a home visitation measure to be included as part of health reform: Home Visitation Measure (bill as a .pdf file)
Support sought for Legislation to Expand State Data on Children
Renewed efforts are underway to achieve passage of legislation that would provide for a state-level child well-being survey. Bipartisan legislation was introduced in both houses on May 21, 2009. In the Senate, Senators John D. Rockefeller (D-WV) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced S.1151. In the House, Representatives Chaka Fattah (D-PA) and Dave Camp (R-MI) introduced H.R. 2558.
Supporters of the legislation will ask those who sponsored the bill during the last Congress to sign on again as co-sponsors. Potential new sponsors will also be approached. State policy makers and advocates can reach out to Members in the Senate and House to emphasize the importance of state-level data for our nation's children.
Notable Links:
Copy of the bill:childindicators.com (.pdf file)
Website for Cause:childindicators.com (Web Page)