Junior League of Atlanta
Political Affairs Action Alert

Background

In 1997, Congress created Title XXI of the Social Security Act to provide health care for the growing number of uninsured children in the United States. This legislation provided states with the opportunity to create State Children’s Health Insurance (SCHIP) programs to increase access to affordable health insurance. In Georgia, this program is PeachCare for Kids. Georgia ranks fifth nationally in numbers of enrolled children. PeachCare for Kids began covering children in 1999, providing comprehensive coverage to uninsured children. The health benefits include primary, preventive, specialist, dental care, and vision care.

The Problem

Georgia’s PeachCare for Kids program is facing a federal fund shortfall of $131 million. This is what is needed to continue PeachCare for Kids until the beginning of the next federal fiscal that starts in October 2007. On December 9, 2006, the 109 th Congress adjourned in the 11 th hour providing the SCHIP with funding to partially fill a massive shortfall. The federal legislation provides a temporary fix with funding available until approximately May 2007.

Advocacy

Georgia needs Congress to appropriate the remainder of the $131 million in order for PeachCare for Kids to continue through federal fiscal year 2007. You can help by writing your Congressman as well as Georgia’s two U.S. Senators and encouraging them to support SCHIP legislation in January when the 110 th Congress convenes. Please write, fax, email, and/or call the members of Georgia’s Congressional delegation (addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, and emails below). Here is a sample letter, please be sure to include all of your contact information when sending and if you are a constituent, let them know.

Sample Letter

January 5, 2007

The Honorable (Name) (Address)

Dear Senator (Name) or Dear Representative (Name):

On behalf of the Junior League of Atlanta, and as a concerned citizen, I am writing to ask you to help more than 260,000 of Georgia’s most vulnerable citizens, our children.

Please help our uninsured Georgia children, and support full funding for PeachCare.

Georgia’s PeachCare for Kids program is facing a federal fund shortfall of $131 million. This is amount represents what is required to continue PeachCare for Kids until the beginning of the next federal fiscal year starting October 2007. As you are aware, on December 9, 2006, the 109 th Congress adjourned in the 11 th hour providing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) with funding to partially fill a massive shortfall. This federal legislation provides only a temporary fix with funding available until only approximately May 2007.

The State of Georgia needs Congress to appropriate the remainder of the $131 million in order continue PeachCare for Kids to through the federal fiscal year of 2007. Please support SCHIP legislation this January when the 110 th Congress convenes.

I appreciate your time and effort in addressing this important concern.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

U.S. Congress Members of Georgia

Senator C. Saxby Chambliss (GA)
416 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3521
Fax: 202-224-0103
Email:http://chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.ContactForm

Senator John H. 'Johnny' Isakson (GA)
120 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3643
Fax: 202-228-0724
Email: http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Representative Jack Kingston (GA)
2242 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-5831
Fax: 202-226-2269
Email:jack.kingston@mail.house.gov

Representative Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA)
2429 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-3631
Fax: 202-225-2203
Email:http://bishop.house.gov/display.cfm?content_id=229

Representative James 'Jim' Marshall (GA)
515 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-1003
Phone: 202-225-6531
Fax: 202-225-3013

Representative Hank Johnson (GA)
1133 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1004
Phone: (202) 225-1605
Fax: (202) 226-0691

Representative John R. Lewis (GA)
343 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-3801
Fax: 202-225-0351
Email:http://www.house.gov/johnlewis/contact.html

Representative Thomas E. Price (GA)
506 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4501
Email:http://tom.house.gov/html/contact_form_email.cfm

Representative John Linder (GA)
1026 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-1007
Phone: 202-225-4272
Fax: 202-225-4696
Email:http://linder.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home

Representative Lynn A. Westmoreland (GA)
1118 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-5901
Fax: 202-225-2515

Representative Charles W. 'Charlie' Norwood Jr. (GA)
2452 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-1009
Phone: 202-225-4101
Fax: 202-226-0776
Email:http://www.house.gov/norwood/sendemail.shtml

Representative Nathan Deal (GA)
2133 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-1009
Phone: 202-225-5211
Fax: 202-225-8272
Email:http://www.house.gov/deal/contact/default.shtml

Representative Phil Gingrey (GA)
119 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2931
Fax: 202-225-2944
Email:http://www.house.gov/formgingrey/IMA/issue.htm

Representative John Barrow (GA)
226 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2823
Fax: 202-225-3377
Email:http://barrow.house.gov/contactemail.asp