Health Coalition for Children and Youth, Immigrant Health Advocates & Others

As many of you already know, yesterday, the Washington State Senate released its proposed 2005-2007 Budget. Last week, I shared with you the news that Governor Gregoire had included in her budget restoration of the Children's Health Program with eligibility for immigrant children up to 100% of the Federal Poverty Level.  We had hoped that at a minimum, this level of funding would be echoed in the proposed Senate and House Budgets. 

We were disappointed to learn that the proposed Senate Budget did not fund immigrant children's health at all.  The House will release its proposed budget next week, and it is imperative that this budget include both funding for immigrant health coverage through the Children's Health Program, but that it also include eligibility for immigrant children up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, so that there is no longer an inequity in the programs serving children based on their citizenship status.

The Children's Alliance sent an alert to our members this morning on this issue asking them to contact their Representatives and ask them to include funding in their budget for immigrant children's health.  The link to this alert is http://www.childrenshub.org/campaign/HB1441_2. 

We are asking that you use the information in this link to alert your members to contact their representatives, and in conversations your organizations may have with House members, and let them know that immigrant children's health must be funded in the House budget that will be released next week.

Thanks for your help with this and please contact me if you have any questions.

Liz

Liz Arjun, MSW/MPH
Health Policy Associate
Children's Alliance
2017 East Spruce St.
Seattle, WA  98122
206.324.0340 ext. 21
fax 206.325-6291

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