Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mr. KENNEDY, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. CORZINE, and Ms. CANTWELL) introduced the Kids Come First Act to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to ensure that every uninsured child in America has health insurance coverage, and for other purposes.
I would like nationally funded health insurance for all. It is not going to happen right now. The Republicans are in power and they don't want it.
But how can the Republicans say "No" to the children?
I bet they will find a way to blame the children for being unisured. As long as Corporate America does not have to take responsibilty for anything, then the Republicans are happy.
I digress. All children need health insurance. We are a very rich country. We can afford to be a community that supports its children if the parents cannot afford to do so. The following is from John Kerry's website.
http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/kidsfirst.php?source=502
A sick child is always a worry. A sick child that you can't get help for is a parent's worst nightmare. Helping the 11 million children who have no health coverage isn't even on the radar screen of the Bush administration and the Republican leaders in Congress. But, we're going to put it there.
It is totally unacceptable that, in the greatest country in the world, millions of children are not getting the health care they need. That's why I have introduced the Kids Come First Act .
Here's why it's so important to do something now:
1/4 of children are not fully up to date on their basic immunizations.
1/3 with chronic asthma do not get a prescription for medications they need.
1/2 of uninsured children have not had a well child visit in the past year.
1 in 6 has delayed or unmet medical needs.
1 in 5 has trouble accessing health care.
1 in 4 does not see a dentist annually.
1 in 3 had no health insurance during 2002 and 2003.
In the Senate, I am working hard to convince my colleagues to co-sponsor this vitally important bill. But, the most important co-sponsors - the ones who can help push this legislation through a Republican Congress and the Bush White House - are the hundreds of thousands of grassroots activists in the johnkerry.com community.
To date, over 470,000 Americans have signed our Kids Come First petition. We're closing in on our immediate goal of 500,000 before President Bush makes his State of the Union Address on Wednesday. We'll build from there until we stand one million strong. We've got to put getting our children the health care they need at the top of our national agenda. It won't be easy, but we will never relent until we find a way to put Kids First.
If the Republicans are going to say "No" to the children, we need to get them on record saying "No". We need to get the message out to the American people that the Republicans are cold and heartless.
This is a bill that can pass if we fight for it. Or it can show the Republicans in a terrible light. Either way, it helps us.