FOR RELEASE: March 24, 2015
CONTACT: Stephanie Niedringhaus, 202-347-9797 x224, sniedringhaus@networklobby.org

Letter sent today to all Members of Congress was signed by representatives of Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and Protestant faiths – Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), National Council of Jewish Women, Islamic Society of North America, Episcopal Church, and more

Noting that children’s access to medical care “is not a political debate or an economic argument, but instead a moral issue,” faith leaders today called for a four-year funding extension for CHIP. Funding runs out at the end of this fiscal year (September 30), and children across our nation will be harmed without its prompt renewal.

Quotes from individual faith leaders:

[Full text of letter and list of signers below individual quotes] 

Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby: “Our faith challenges us to protect healthcare as a human right. CHIP is one way that we as a nation provide a vital lifeline for the 8 million children it insures. CHIP must be protected and extended in order to care for the most vulnerable in our communities: our children.”

Nancy K. Kaufman, CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW): “Now is not the time to go backwards by threatening yet another critical advance that has improved the health and economic security of women, children, and families — the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Congressional leaders must protect and extend CHIP through 2019, as it provides needed and affordable health coverage to 8 million children from low-income families and, in many states, also ensures affordable health care for pregnant women who are struggling to make ends meet.”

Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, National Director, Office for Interfaith & Community Alliances, Islamic Society of North America: “The health of a nation is diagnosed by the degree of accessibility and affordability of health care to all its people. It is unimaginable for the people of faith to see that a huge number of our children will be without health coverage. This is not healthy for a nation that is destined to provide leadership to others. We pray to God almighty to guide our leaders, the decision makers, to let the chips not fall where they should not.”

Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ: “Jesus loves children and they are precious in God’s sight. As people of faith we have a moral responsibility to care for the most vulnerable among us – our children. We should not let partisan rancor stand in the way of our promise to care for our children. A clean four-year extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will allow CHIP to continue working for children and their families and ensure that we are doing what is necessary and right for the health of all children.”

Sister Joan Marie Steadman, CSC, executive director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR): “CHIP is a lifeline for children across our country whose parents struggle each and every day to give them the love and care they need to thrive. We urge members of Congress to invest in our country’s future by investing in the health of all God’s children. The Children’s Health Insurance Program is an effective program that deserves to be extended for another four years.”

Rabbi Jonah Pesner, director of Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism: “Caring for our nation’s children by extending funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program for four years is not a political question; it is a moral imperative. Inspired by the words of Exodus 22:21 that command us to ‘not oppress the widow or orphan,’ and instead to care for the most vulnerable members of our society, we call on Congress to act quickly and extend funding for this popular and successful program that enables millions of our nation’s most vulnerable children to access the health services they desperately need.”

Rev. Jennifer Butler, CEO of Faith in Public Life: “As people of faith, we are called to uphold the dignity of every person, especially the children in our communities. It is imperative that Congress reauthorizes the CHIP program and ensures that millions of children continue to receive life-giving healthcare.”

TEXT OF LETTER

March 24, 2015

A Letter to Members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives from Faith-based Organizations Regarding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

To Members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives:

As leaders of faith communities, we believe that every person has inherent dignity and shares a sacred obligation to care for one another. Such care includes tending to the health of our neighbors. We have a particular obligation to care for children, as our faiths call on us to protect those who are especially vulnerable. Our faith traditions inform us that children’s access to needed health insurance is not a political debate or an economic argument, but instead a moral issue. We write to you today asking you to strongly support a four-year extension of funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) which provides critical support to millions of children who would otherwise be without access to care.

CHIP was created almost two decades ago by a bipartisan coalition and has the support of state governors and legislatures. States administer the program using their own resources and matching federal funds. The Children’s Health Insurance Program has been remarkably successful, with the rate of uninsured children in the United States decreasing by half between 1997 and 2012, from 14% to 7%. CHIP has been authorized through 2019, but its funding expires this year; therefore it is critical that four year of continued, clean funding are provided to ensure children have uninterrupted access to essential medical care.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program is popular and effective in its current form and for this reason, we call for clean funding with no significant changes made to the structure or implementation of the program. Governors and state legislators are finalizing their FY 2016 state budgets and must know that funds will be available for CHIP in order to make good budgetary decisions. We ask, therefore, that you vote to fund CHIP through 2019 as soon as possible.

Children deserve safe, affordable, quality healthcare, and the resources we use to ensure their health are an investment in our families and our country. By providing health insurance to millions of children, we contribute to the common good and help build our entire society. When children have access to preventative care and families face lower out-of-pocket costs, children and their caregivers can reach their full potential. Congress must act to establish stable funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program for the next four years and care for our nation’s children; it is the moral decision to make.

Sincerely,

Bread for the World

Catholic Democrats

Ecumenical Poverty Initiative

Episcopal Church

Family and Children’s Ministries of Disciples Home Missions, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Faith in Public Life

General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church

Islamic Society of North America

Leadership Conference of Women Religious

National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

National Council of Jewish Women

NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas’ Institute Justice Team

Union for Reform Judaism

United Church of Christ

NETWORK—a Catholic leader in the global movement for justice and peace—educates, organizes and lobbies for economic and social transformation. Founded in 1971 by 47 Catholic sisters, NETWORK is supported by thousands of groups and individuals committed to working for social and economic justice. ●www.networklobby.org ● facebook.com/NetworkLobby ● Twitter: NETWORKLobby

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