Politics

SCHIP and Tour of The Learning Center in Jonesboro

Today, I toured The Learning Center in Jonesboro and met with the administrators and families to discuss the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). After the meeting, I spoke with the families, community leaders, and reporters to further highlight the importance of the legislation for the local community.

For 10 years, this program has successfully given children, who would otherwise not have the opportunity, the medical care and attention they need. This legislation will give states the resources to help low-income children gain access to immunizations, medicines, and other valuable healthcare services enabling them to grow up healthy and strong. In the long run, it is more cost effective to give children the health insurance and preventative medicine they need, instead of having them resort to the emergency room when they become extremely sick.

Children are our most precious resource and we must do everything we can to preserve their health and well-being. As the debate continues, I will do everything in my power to give our children every opportunity available to ensure they can grow up to become healthy and successful adults. Ensuring that our children have the healthcare they need is a value not only supported by a majority of Americans, it is the right thing to do.

Full post as published by Congressman Marion Berry on October 19, 2007 (boomark / email).