Policy Alert: SCHIP Reauthorization

As many of you know, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Compromise Bill (H.R. 976) that was vetoed last week by President Bush is scheduled for an override vote in Congress next Thursday (10/18). Currently, there are enough votes in the Senate to override the Presidential veto, however the House remains 15-20 votes short of the necessary 290 to override.

California’s SCHIP program – Healthy Families – is the largest in the nation and provides health coverage to over 800,000 children. Without full federal reauthorization, California may be forced to shut down its SCHIP-funded programs by mid-2008, and perhaps begin limiting enrollment as early as this fall. 

The following is the list of members from California’s Congressional Delegation who voted “NO” on the SCHIP bill. Please take the time to call the Representative below that is in your district and urge their support for SCHIP reauthorization.

Representative Wally Herger (R - 02)
202-225-3076

Representative Dan Lungren (R - 03)
202-225-5716

Representative John T. Doolittle (R - 04)
202-225-2511

Representative George P. Radanovich (R - 19)
202-225-4540

Representative Devin Nunes (R - 21)
202-225-2523

Representative Kevin McCarthy (R - 22)
202-225-2915 

Representative Elton Gallegly (R - 24)
202-225-5811 

Representative Howard P. (Buck) McKeon (R - 25)
202-225-1956 

Representative David Dreier (R - 26)
202-225-2305 

Representative Edward R. Royce (R - 40)
202-225-4111 

Representative Jerry Lewis (R - 41)
202-225-5861 

Representative Gary Miller (R - 42)
202-225-3201 

Representative Ken Calvert (R - 44)
202-225-1986 

Representative Mary Whitaker Bono (R - 45)
202-225-5330 

Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R - 46)
202-225-2415 

Representative John Campbell (R - 48)
202-225-5611 

Representative Darrell Issa (R - 49)
202-225-3906 

Representative Brian Bilbray (R - 50)
202-225-0508 

Representative Duncan Hunter (R - 52)
202-225-5672

Additional information on SCHIP can be found here. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

Yvette R. Jorgensen, Public Policy Analyst
California Family Health Council
Phone: (213) 386-5614 ext. 4519
Email: jorgenseny@cfhc.org