Mission Leader Calls on US Congress to Pass Child Health Bill Over Presidential Veto

New York, NY, October 3, 2007 -- The chief mission officer of The United Methodist Church has personally appealed to each member of the Congress to override President George Bush's veto of a bill that would reauthorize and expand a pivotal health insurance program for children.
The appeal of the Rev. R. Randy Day was being faxed to all Senators and Representatives on the morning of October 3 even as the President vetoed the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Day, the general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries, also made a last minute appeal to the White House asking President Bush not to veto the measure.

SCHIP is a popular state-federal program that currently provides health insurance for some 6.6 million children and would cover some four million more under the congressionally approved reauthorization.

The mission executive appealed to the President as a "fellow United Methodist" and stated that The United Methodist Church "firmly believes that all children in the US deserve the opportunity for a healthy life."

In support of the appeal, Harriett Olson, head of the Women’s Division of the mission agency said, "One of the measures by which a society is judged is the quality of the care and support it offers to its most vulnerable. Children in this country are among the most vulnerable and it is our moral and ethical responsibility to support basic health care for them. SCHIP is a critical step to enabling our national and state government to do just that."

Health care for children is a major concern of the Women’s Division, which is the corporate expression of United Methodist Women.

At issue in the SCHIP struggle between the President and Congress is the amount of the increase in the reauthorization. Congress wrote in a $35 billion increase over the next funding period; the White House wants only $5 billion. Also at state is the upper income limit of families that qualify for the program.

The reauthorization was passed by a substantial majority in the Senate but by a slimmer margin in the House of Representatives. To override a veto in the House would mean that some 15 Republicans that voted no would need to change their vote.

Day asked opponents in both houses of Congress who opposed the bill to now swing around. He applauded the action of Senators and Representatives who initially voted for the bill and asked them to hold firm despite a veto. In explaining why SCHIP is important to The United Methodist Church and the General Board of Global Ministries, Day said in each of the letters:

United Methodists have long supported the value of public education for all children, wealthy and poor alike; we feel we have a moral obligation to work with our government representatives to insure health care for all children who need this invaluable service. In addition, with no national healthcare plan, many uninsured families in the United States are just one illness or one accident away from bankruptcy which affects the whole family.

Providing funding for SCHIP in the United States contributes to the mission of improving healthcare globally and sends a positive message to the world that we as a nation care for our children. It is a travesty that the US is one of the wealthiest nations on earth, and yet also one of the only industrialized nations that does not provide comprehensive healthcare to all its children.

The full text of Day's letter to congressional members who voted for the reauthorization follows.

On behalf of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church (UMC) and on behalf of over 9 million uninsured children in the United States, I applaud your courage and affirmative vote to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and ask that you stay strong in your convictions to override a potential Presidential veto.

Global Ministries is the mission agency of The United Methodist Church and seeks to live out the Gospel – the Good News of God's love and gifts of redemption by empowering the work of mission through alleviating suffering and promoting justice, freedom and peace in the United States and in 125 countries throughout the World.

We firmly believe that all children in the US deserve the opportunity for a healthy life and the people of The United Methodist Church strongly agree and have voiced their support for the SCHIP legislation. The substantial bipartisan support for SCHIP proves that this reauthorization is needed and worthy of your undivided support. The urgent need for this legislation can be seen in the fact that the number of uninsured children increased by one million in the past year. Children's lives are at stake if this legislation does not get enacted.

The reauthorization and increased funding for SCHIP is of utmost priority as it will allow states to continue their commitment to providing health insurance coverage to the millions of currently enrolled children, and provide the opportunity for additional children to have access to this vital health coverage so that no child is denied due to a lack of federal resources. Medicare is a program that improves the health and quality of life for seniors. I fervently maintain that the same kind of care be available for all children through comprehensive child health coverage.

United Methodists have long supported the value of public education for all children, wealthy and poor alike; we feel we have a moral obligation to work with our government representatives to insure health care for all children who need this invaluable service. In addition, with no national healthcare plan, many uninsured families in the United States are just one illness or one accident away from bankruptcy which affects the whole family.

Providing funding for SCHIP in the United States contributes to the mission of improving healthcare globally and sends a positive message to the world that we as a nation care for our children. It is a travesty that the US is one of the wealthiest nations on earth, and yet also one of the only industrialized nations that does not provide comprehensive healthcare to all its children.

Your affirmative voice that has strengthened this legislation to see it forward is critical to the health and well being of millions of children who do not have a voice or a vote, who truly are the "least of these." Thank you for your vote and support of this critical program for children.

Sincerely,
Rev. R. Randy Day