Ruppersberger and Team Maryland Rally for Health Care for Kids

(Washington, D.C.)- Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) and Team Maryland rallied on the steps of the Maryland State House in Annapolis on October 1, 2007, for health care for kids.  The group is calling on President George W. Bush NOT to veto the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization and expansion and instead to sign it into law.      

SCHIP legislation passed the U.S. House and Senate last week.  SCHIP provides health care to children whose parents make too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private health insurance.  Health officials say more than 100,000 Maryland children are covered under the Maryland program, Maryland Children’s Health Program.  Expansion of the program would cover an additional 42,000 uninsured children in Maryland.    

“No child in the State of Maryland should be forced to go without health care because their parents can’t afford private insurance.  The Maryland Children’s Health Program gives more than 100,000 children access to doctors and medicines that will keep them healthy so they can grow and learn and become productive members of society,” said Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD).  

Congressman Ruppersberger was joined by Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley (D-MD), Lt. Governor Anthony Brown (D-MD), Maryland Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-MD), and members of Maryland Citizen’s Health Initiative.  The leaders were also joined by the Frost family of Baltimore who have been advocating for the legislation nationally and understand the importance of having insurance after a severe car accident. Graeme Frost, age 12, delivered the Democratic response to the President’s radio address on Saturday, September 29, 2007.

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