Through Art, Kids Urge Legislators to Promote Children’s Health Care
With the Senate poised to take a pivotal vote on SCHIP (State Children Health Insurance Program), young people are on Capitol Hill exhibiting their powerful artwork. The “America’s Future Starts with Healthy Children” art exhibit is a timely reminder that swift action needs to be taken so that no child is waiting for health care. Collected from 24 states, nearly 400 students submitted original, hand-drawn art work.62 of the pieces were selected to be displayed in Washington, D.C.
President Obama signed the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) legislation in an East Room ceremony at the White House.
Washington, DC : 22 min.
President Obama holding the art exhibit brochure at the bill signing
WASHINGTON (CNN 2-4-09) — President Barack Obama claimed the second major legislative victory of his young administration Wednesday, signing a bill to provide federally funded health care to an estimated 4 million children.
The final version of the new law, which expands the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by roughly $35 billion over the next five years, passed a sharply polarized House of Representatives earlier in the day, with almost every Democrat voting in favor of the expansion and most Republicans opposing it.
With the bill, Obama said at a White House ceremony, “We fulfill one of the highest responsibilities that we have — to ensure the health and well-being of our nation’s children.”
The president said the bill was a downpayment on his “commitment to cover every single American.”
