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Sili Recio's picture

The U.S. Senate is currently considering the Children’s Health Insurance Program Extension Act of 2014 which would extend CHIP through 2019, and incentivizes states to work to enroll uninsured (but CHIP-eligible) children.

I have the privilege of being one of the Risers taking your signatures (over 25,000 at last count) to Congress tomorrow (November 18) to let them know that you are in support of the passing of that bill. It is a humbling experience and I wish I could call each and every one of you and thank you by name. This is a great thing for our nation's children. Since it first went into effect in 1997, CHIP has helped reduce the number of uninsured children by half. That's such a good thing. But that can all change next year. Funding for CHIP will expire in 2015 unless Congress votes to extend it. If Congress doesn’t act, millions of children could lose health care coverage next year. 

I love the idea that so many of us agree on this matter. That polls show that Americans from all walks of life and across the political spectrum overwhelmingly support CHIP. Because it means that our children matter to us. Each and every one. Today, more than 8 million children rely on CHIP for health insurance. Kids are being covered. My daughter is one of those kids which makes this delivery extra special. Having a child with febrile seizures makes you appreciate insurance coverage that much more.

We are both in Washington, D.C. for this important moment in time. I hope that you will join me in raising your voice once again for this cause. I will be live tweeting as I go along tomorrow. So will my colleagues. Our delivery will take place between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Check out the #CHIPWorks hashtag and follow along.

Also, can you pick up the phone and make a quick call for me? Call your Senators at 855-976-1858 and tell them to look for the package from MomsRising members. Don't forget to let them know that you support the passing of Senate bill 2461 and would like them to support it as well.

We have stories, signatures, playing cards that you've sent in with special messages as to why CHIP matters to you and a very special poker chip to hand out. A great big thanks to those of you that texted to send a poker chip in your name to your Senator. Over 200 of you answered that call! This chip lays it out in very simple terms. 

We are (literally and figuratively) putting the chips on the table and in no uncertain terms letting our leaders know that they are not to gamble with our kids! I hope you'll stand with us tomorrow, no matter where you are, as we deliver this message. Make a call, send out a tweet (or 5). Your voice is powerful and together, our voices are amplified into a roar that cannot be ignored.

If you want to see what we're up to, check out our Facebook album.


The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of MomsRising.org.

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