For five decades, Senator Kennedy stood with working families to fight for our shared vision of America where every family has access to affordable healthcare, every worker has a paycheck that supports a family, and every child is guaranteed a brighter future. He spent his entire adult life, through tragedy and triumph, in pursuit of this America. From his first major speech in support of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to his last vote on President Obama's economic recovery plan, his vision of a more perfect nation never wavered.

From SEIU President Andy Stern:

Senator Kennedy stood with SEIU members on countless picket lines and contract negotiations. He stood with millions of hardworking immigrants and SEIU members to call for comprehensive immigration reform in 2005. He stood with workers fighting for a voice on the job by championing the Employee Free Choice Act. And until his final days he stood with SEIU healthcare workers and other workers to win access to affordable healthcare for all Americans.

Thirty-nine years ago, Senator Kennedy introduced his first bill to overhaul our nation's broken healthcare system and provide affordable coverage to all Americans. "Sen. Kennedy dreamed of a nation of progress where justice, fairness and opportunity for all laid at the heart," said SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger. "The most fitting tribute to honoring the life and legacy of this great statesman is for Congress to pass quality affordable health care for all this year."

"We stand closer now than ever before to achieving what Senator Kennedy called the cause of his life," said Stern. "Let us continue his cause...And let us continue to make Kennedy's vision for America a reality."

In the wake of Senator Kennedy's passing last night after a long battle with brain cancer, our deepest condolences and prayers go out to Senator's Kennedy's wife Vicki, his children and the rest of the Kennedy family. He will be missed.

Visit our tribute page honoring Ted Kennedy here. Sign an online card for Senator Kennedy's family here.

The same extreme right-wing groups that are fighting efforts to reform health care and protect workers in 2009 have spent many years - and tens of millions of dollars - fighting legislation that helps working families in Maine every day. With 58,000 Mainers out of work, now is the time to do everything we can to stand up to these extremists - and stand up for working families.

These opponents include the Club for Growth, a right-wing organization that has spent millions of dollars to defeat moderate Republican members of Congress who don't agree with their extreme policies; the so-called Americans for Job Security, a front group for the insurance industry and other corporate interests that has run ads against the Employee Free Choice Act; and the Heritage Foundation, a think tank that promotes ultra-conservative policies.

These groups opposed raising the minimum wage, that not only benefited thousands of Mainers but also pump more than $8 million into the state economy. They even opposed a children's health care bill that will not only cover 11,600 more children in Maine, but also will create nearly 2,000 jobs in the state. Extreme front groups in Washington do not speak for working families in Maine.

The first step is making sure the President's budget gets the support it needs from leaders in Congress. His budget makes a huge down-payment on reforming healthcare this year, and toward erasing the disparities that have resulted in unequal care. We need to show our strong and unequivocal support for the Presidents budget. Already, Obama has done more to reform health care than George Bush did in eight years including:

· Covering More Children: Reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program to cover an additional 4 million children

· Preventing Cuts in Medicaid: $87 Billion to prevent Medicaid cuts

· Real Money for Disease Prevention in Underserved Communities: $1 billion for prevention & wellness--much of which will be focused on underserved communities & advocates need to weigh in with HHS to shape this spending

· Research Into Which Treatments Work Best for Minority Communities: $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness--research into what treatments & procedures work best for which patient groups--this research will be conducted with sensitivity to gender, ethnicity, and minority populations.

· Technology To Collect Health Data For Communities of Color: $20 billion in Health Information Technology investments--Health Information Technoloy should enable the improved collection of patient demographic data to better measure patient outcomes by subpopulations

· Investing in the Healthcare Workforce for Communities of Color: $500 million for health care workforce--much of this investment will go to promote National Health Service Corps, whose physicians, dentists, and nurses serve underserved communities

Obama's proposed budget will go even further to promote equality by:

· Investing $640 Billion In Expanded Coverage To Improve The Delivery System and Contain Costs. It's the first step in vastly reducing the number of uninsured and leveling the health care playing field.

· A New Nurse Home Visitation Program That Targets Families At Risk for Chronic Disease With Early Intervention Programs for New Moms.

· Additional $330 Million in Health Care Workforce - Something Communities Of Color Need, So That We Have The Workforce and Delivery System To Level The Playing Field.

Click here to join the Healthcare Equality Project and show your support for President Obama's budget.

We cannot get our economy back on track without repairing the American health care system. Health care reform is not just a moral imperative, but also an economic necessity. In 2007, the U.S. economy lost as much as $207 billion as a result of the poor health and shorter lifespan of the uninsured.

Skyrocketing health care costs add to families' already overwhelming burden, threatening their health and financial security. We can do better. Solving America's health care crisis will improve quality of care, reduce costs and make businesses more competitive.

The urgent need for reform is more apparent now in Tennessee than ever. In the past eight years, health care premiums for family coverage have risen more than 5 times faster than wages. With 7.9% unemployed, many families are at risk of losing their health coverage. The message is clear: Tennessee's families urgently need Congress to take direct action on health care reform.

Supporting Facts

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• Health Insurance premiums in Tennessee increased by 61.9% from 2000 to 2007, while median earnings only increased a mere 12.1%. The median yearly wage in 2007 for Tennessee was only $25,639, but the average health care premium for a family was $10,606. This means that premiums grew 5.1 times faster than wages.


• In Tennessee, approximately 1,301,000 non-elderly people spent more than 10% of their pre-tax family income on health care costs in 2008. 87% of those people have insurance, but are underinsured. 1,133,000 Tennessee residents with insurance spent more than 10% of their pre-tax income on health care costs, and 333,000 spend more than 25% of their income.


• By 2016, projections show that Tennessee families will have to pay close to $19,400 for health care or over 44 percent of median household income. This would represent a 70 percent increase over 2008 levels.


• In addition, more and more Tennessee residents have been forced into the exorbitantly expensive individual market, as unemployment reaches massive heights. As of December 2008, 241,183 Tennessee residents were unemployed. That reflects a loss of almost 90,000 jobs statewide last year alone, increasing the state unemployment rate by over 2.9 percentage points.


• If the state keeps losing jobs at the rate it did last year, 384,425 people in Tennessee will be unemployed by 2010. 48.35% of insured Tennessee residents depend on their employers for their health insurance. If nothing is done to stem the economic downturn and reform our health care system, 69,259 Tennessee workers will lose their current health coverage, meaning that 28,684 more people will likely enroll in COBRA. That leaves 40,611 people who will have to enroll in Medicaid, fend for themselves on the private market, or become uninsured.


• This year Tennessee faces a $1.4 billion budget shortfall. As of 2007, 29% of all state spending has gone to Medicaid and SCHIP. $7.5 billion went to spending on Medicaid alone.


• As of 2007 there were already 126,186 uninsured children in Tennessee, and more than 714,361 uninsured adults. 276,378 of uninsured adults in Tennessee also live below the Federal Poverty Line. Tennessee's economy lost as much as $3.57 billion because of the poor health and shorter lifespan of the uninsured in 2007. That equates to $4,000 per uninsured Tennessee resident.


• Of the top 10 employers in the state of Tennessee, 3 of them are Healthcare Providers. According to the US Census, 209,949 individuals work in the Heath Care Sector in the state & make an average of $3,886 per month, which accounts for $1.0 billion in wages per month.

The health of the American economy cannot improve without addressing the healthcare crisis. Building on the existing healthcare system, quality, affordable healthcare can be guaranteed to every American. It's the reform truly needed to rebuild Tennessee's economy.

We cannot get our economy back on track without repairing the American health care system. Health care reform is not just a moral imperative, but also an economic necessity. In 2007, the U.S. economy lost as much as $207 billion as a result of the poor health and shorter lifespan of the uninsured. Skyrocketing health care costs add to families' already overwhelming burden, threatening their health and financial security. We can do better. Solving America's health care crisis will improve quality of care, reduce costs and make businesses more competitive. The urgent need for reform is more apparent now in North Dakota than ever. In the past eight years, health care premiums for family coverage have risen more than twice as fast as wages. With 3.5% unemployed, many families are at risk of losing their health coverage. The message is clear: North Dakota's families urgently need Congress to take direct action on health care reform.

Supporting Facts

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• Health Insurance premiums in North Dakota increased by 74.3% from 2000 to 2007, while median earnings only increased a mere 26.4%. The median yearly wage in 2007 for North Dakota was only $24,255, but the average health care premium for a family was $10,674. This means that premiums grew 2.8 times faster than wages.


• In North Dakota, approximately 155,000 non-elderly people spent more than 10% of their pre-tax family income on health care costs in 2008. 89% of those people have insurance, but are underinsured. 138,000 North Dakotans with insurance spent more than 10% of their pre-tax income on health care costs, and 48,000 spent more than 25% of their income.


• By 2016, projections show that North Dakota families will have to pay around $20,000 for health care or over 41 percent of median household income. This would represent an 76 percent increase over 2008 levels.


• In addition, more and more North Dakotans have been forced into the exorbitantly expensive individual market, as unemployment reaches massive heights. As of December 2008, 12,848 North Dakota residents were unemployed. That reflects a loss of over 1,078 jobs statewide last year alone, increasing the state unemployment rate by over .3 percentage points.


• If the state keeps losing jobs at the rate it did last year, 14,025 people in North Dakota will be unemployed by 2010. 66% of insured North Dakotans depend on their employers for their health insurance. If nothing is done to stem the economic downturn and reform our health care system, 630 North Dakota workers will lose their current health coverage, meaning that 235 more people will likely enroll in COBRA. That leaves 395 people who will have to enroll in Medicaid, fend for themselves on the private market, or become uninsured.


• As of 2007, 14% of all state spending has gone to Medicaid and SCHIP. $513 million of North Dakota's budget went to spending on Medicaid alone.


• As of 2007 there were already 14,305 uninsured children in North Dakota, and more than 53,677 uninsured adults. 16,927 of uninsured adults in North Dakota also live below the Federal Poverty Line. North Dakota's economy lost as much as $269 million because of the poor health and shorter lifespan of the uninsured in 2007. That equates $4,400 per uninsured North Dakota resident.


• Of the top 10 employers in the state of North Dakota, 8 of them are Healthcare Providers. According to the US Census, almost 42,000 individuals work in the Heath Care Sector in the state & make an average of $3,264 per month, which accounts for $137 million in wages per month.

The health of the American economy cannot improve without addressing the healthcare crisis. Building on the existing healthcare system, quality, affordable healthcare can be guaranteed to every American. It's the reform truly needed to rebuild North Dakota's economy.

We cannot get our economy back on track without repairing the American health care system. Health care reform is not just a moral imperative, but also an economic necessity. In 2007, the U.S. economy lost as much as $207 billion as a result of the poor health and shorter lifespan of the uninsured.

Skyrocketing health care costs add to families' already overwhelming burden, threatening their health and financial security. We can do better. Solving America's health care crisis will improve quality of care, reduce costs and make businesses more competitive.

The urgent need for reform is more apparent now in Iowa than ever. In the past eight years, health care premiums for family coverage have risen almost 4 times faster than wages. With 4.6% unemployed, many families are at risk of losing their health coverage. The message is clear: Iowa's families urgently need Congress to take direct action on health care reform.

Supporting Facts

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• Health Insurance premiums in Iowa increased by 72.6% from 2000 to 2007, while median earnings only increased a mere 18.5%. The median yearly wage in 2007 for Iowa was only $26,247, but the average health care premium for a family was $11,194. This means that premiums grew 3.9 times faster than wages.


• In Iowa, approximately 701,000 non-elderly people spent more than 10% of their pre- tax family income on health care costs in 2008. 91% of those people have insurance, but are underinsured. 638,000 Iowans with insurance spent more than 10% of their pre-tax income on health care costs, and 172,000 spend more than 25% of their income.


• By 2016, projections show that Iowa families will have to pay over $21,000 for health care or over 39 percent of median household income. This would represent a 76 percent increase over 2008 levels.


• In addition, more and more Iowans have been forced into the exorbitantly expensive ndividual market, as unemployment reaches massive heights. As of December 2008, 77,080 Iowa residents were unemployed. That reflects a loss of over 13,100 jobs statewide last year alone, increasing the state unemployment rate by 0.8 percentage points.


• If the state keeps losing jobs at the rate it did last year, 92,989 people in Iowa will be unemployed by 2010. 59% of Iowans depend on their employers for their health insurance. If nothing is done to stem the economic downturn and reform our health care system, 9,126 Iowa workers will lose their current health coverage, meaning that 3,182 more people will likely enroll in COBRA. That leaves 5,944 people who will have to enroll in Medicaid, fend for themselves on the private market, or become uninsured.


• This year Iowa faces a $134 million budget shortfall, and has already depleted its budget stabilization rainy day fund. As a result, the state has instituted a hiring freeze on public employees. As of 2007, 17% of all state spending has gone to Medicaid and SCHIP. $2.6 billion went to spending on Medicaid alone.


• As of 2007 there were already 41,361 uninsured children in Iowa, and 248,817 uninsured adults. 89,178 of uninsured adults in Iowa also live below the Federal Poverty Line. Iowa's economy lost as much as $1.2 billion because of the poor health and shorter lifespan of the uninsured in 2007. That equates $4,335 per uninsured Iowa resident.


• Of the top 10 employers in the state of Iowa, 4 are Healthcare Providers. According to the US Census, 142,870 individuals work in the Heath Care Sector in the state & make an average of $3,256 per month, which accounts for $466 million in wages per month.

The health of the American economy cannot improve without addressing the healthcare crisis. Building on the existing healthcare system, quality, affordable healthcare can be guaranteed to every American. It's the reform truly needed to rebuild Iowa's economy.

We cannot get our economy back on track without repairing the American health care system. Health care reform is not just a moral imperative, but also an economic necessity. In 2007, the U.S. economy lost as much as $207 billion as a result of the poor health and shorter lifespan of the uninsured.

Skyrocketing health care costs add to families' already overwhelming burden, threatening their health and financial security. We can do better. Solving America's health care crisis will improve quality of care, reduce costs and make businesses more competitive.

The urgent need for reform is more apparent now in Florida than ever. In the past eight years, health care premiums for family coverage have risen more than three times faster than wages. With 8.1% unemployed, many families are at risk of losing their health coverage. The message is clear: Florida's families urgently need Congress to take direct action on health care reform.

Supporting Facts

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• Health Insurance premiums in Florida increased by 72.0% from 2000 to 2007, while median earnings only increased a mere 20.2%. The median yearly wage in 2007 for Florida was only $27,353, but the average health care premium for a family was $11,720. This means that premiums grew 3.6 times faster than wages.


• In Florida, approximately 3,873,000 non-elderly people spent more than 10% of their pre-tax family income on health care costs in 2008. 79.7% of those people have insurance, but are underinsured. 3,087,000 Florida residents with insurance spent more than 10% of their pre-tax income on health care costs, and 883,000 spend more than 25% of their income.


• By 2016, projections show that Florida families will have to pay close to $22,400 for health care or over 43 percent of median household income. This would represent a 76 percent increase over 2008 levels.


• In addition, more and more Florida residents have been forced into the exorbitantly expensive individual market, as unemployment reaches massive heights. As of December 2008, 751.753 Florida residents were unemployed. That reflects a loss of over 336,000 jobs statewide last year alone, increasing the state unemployment rate by over 1 percentage point.


• If the state keeps losing jobs at the rate it did last year, 1,360,143 people in Florida will be unemployed by 2010. 46.38% of insured Florida residents depend on their employers for their health insurance. If nothing is done to stem the economic downturn and reform our health care system, 282,168 Florida workers will lose their current health coverage, meaning that 121,678 more people will likely enroll in COBRA. That leaves 160,490 people who will have to enroll in Medicaid, fend for themselves on the private market, or become uninsured.


• This year Florida faces a $5.7 billion budget shortfall, and as a result, the state government has implemented a hiring freeze on state employees. As of 2007, 20% of all state spending has gone to Medicaid and SCHIP. $14.6 billion went to spending on Medicaid alone.


• As of 2007 there were already 843,006 uninsured children in Florida, and more than 2,840,918 uninsured adults. 1,190,935 of uninsured adults in Florida also live below the Federal Poverty Line. Florida's economy lost as much as $14.55 billion because of the poor health and shorter lifespan of the uninsured in 2007. That equates $4,000 per uninsured Florida resident.


• Of the top 10 employers in the state of Florida, 4 of them are Healthcare Providers. According to the US Census, 814,904 individuals work in the Heath Care Sector in the state & make an average of $3,876 per month, which accounts for about $3.2 billion in wages per month.

The health of the American economy cannot improve without addressing the healthcare crisis. Building on the existing healthcare system, quality, affordable healthcare can be guaranteed to every American. It's the reform truly needed to rebuild Florida's economy.

We cannot get our economy back on track without repairing the American health care system. Health care reform is not just a moral imperative, but also an economic necessity. In 2007, the U.S. economy lost as much as $207 billion as a result of the poor health and shorter lifespan of the uninsured.

Skyrocketing health care costs add to families' already overwhelming burden, threatening their health and financial security. We can do better. Solving America's health care crisis will improve quality of care, reduce costs and make businesses more competitive.

The urgent need for reform is more apparent now in California than ever. In the past eight years, health care premiums for family coverage have risen 5 times faster than wages. 9.3% unemployed, many families are at risk of losing their health coverage. The message is clear: California's families urgently need Congress to take direct action on health care reform.

Supporting Facts

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• Health Insurance premiums in California increased by 95.8% from 2000 to 2007, while median earnings only increased a mere 19.3%. The median yearly wage in 2007 for California was only $30,702, but the average health care premium for a family was $12,194. This means that premiums grew 5.0 times faster than wages.


• In California, approximately 6,555,000 non-elderly people spent more than 10% of their pre-tax family income on health care costs in 2008. 77.25% of those people have insurance, but are underinsured. 5,064,000 Californians with insurance spent more than 10% of their pre-tax income on health care costs, and 1,321,000 spend more than 25% of their income.


• By 2016, projections show that California families will have to pay close to $25,500 for health care or over 41 percent of median household income. This would represent a 90.3 percent increase over 2008 levels.


• In addition, more and more Californians have been forced into the exorbitantly expensive individual market, as unemployment reaches massive heights. As of December 2008, 1,731,800 California residents were unemployed. That reflects a loss of over 652,000 jobs statewide last year alone, increasing the state unemployment rate by over 3 percentage points.


• If the state keeps losing jobs at the rate it did last year, 2,778,504 people in California will be unemployed by 2010. 48.35% of insured Californians depend on their employers for their health insurance. If nothing is done to stem the economic downturn and reform our health care system, 506,110 California workers will lose their current health coverage.


• While 209,349 people will likely enroll in COBRA, which lets workers who lose their jobs continue their health benefits at their own expense, the high cost of COBRA will force an estimated 296,761 people to enroll in Medicaid, fend for themselves on the private market, or become uninsured.


• This year California faces a $35.9 billion budget shortfall. As a result, the state has already proposed cuts that will cause more than 429,000 adults to lose health coverage. As of 2007, 19% of all state spending has gone to Medicaid and SCHIP. $35.4 billion went to spending on Medicaid alone.


• As of 2007 there were already 1,232,218 uninsured children in California, and more than 5,360,938 uninsured adults. 1,780,823 of uninsured adults in California also live below the Federal Poverty Line. California's economy lost as much as $32 billion because of the poor health and shorter lifespan of the uninsured in 2007. That equates $4,900 per uninsured California resident.


• Of the top 10 employers in the state of California, 1 of them is a Healthcare Provider. According to the US Census, 1,172,614 individuals work in the Heath Care Sector in the state & make an average of $4,320.26 per month, which accounts for $5.06 billion in wages per month.

The health of the American economy cannot improve without addressing the healthcare crisis. Building on the existing healthcare system, quality, affordable healthcare can be guaranteed to every American. It's the reform truly needed to rebuild California's economy.

SEIU joined with Families USA, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) this week to launch a $10 million ad campaign to applaud Members of Congress for voting to expand and strengthen the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This program will ensure that over 11 million lower income children, many of whose parents have lost their employer-provided health care coverage through layoffs and cutbacks, will be able to receive doctor check-ups, dentist visits, and preventive care.

The TV ads will run on local cable television stations including Comedy Central, CNN, FOX and MSNBC; specifically targeting 34 senators over a three week period and 49 congressmen for two weeks.

Watch it here:

Washington, D.C.- "With the economy in crisis and the cost of health insurance skyrocketing, too many of America's families have been forced to decide between taking their child to the doctor and paying their monthly bills. Today, President Obama made clear hardworking families should not have to make that choice," said SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger, as the President signed a bipartisan bill to strengthen the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

"With an additional four million children now receiving the healthcare they need, today marks day one of fixing America's broken healthcare system. Day one of bringing together - Republicans, Democrats, business, and families - to say the time is now, we must ensure everyone has access to quality, affordable health insurance.

"Providing healthcare to millions of more children, ensuring women can receive equal pay with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and the creation of the Middle Class Working Families Task Force led by Vice President Joe Biden show that the Obama Administration understands the importance of working families to getting our economy back on track."

SEIU, the nation's largest union of health care workers, is helping its 2 million members and community leaders contact their members of Congress. In addition to comprehensive health care reform, members are continuing to talk to their elected officials about the need to pass a large economic recovery package that invests in state and local government to preserve essential services and invests in infrastructure and human services to save and create jobs.

With 2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.

OMAHA - President Obama's approval today of a bipartisan bill to strengthen the State Children's Health Insurance Program couldn't have happened without groundwork by Senator Ben Nelson paving the way for a broader effort to finally fix our broken health care system.

"Senator Nelson was the only one from our state that stood up for Nebraska's children by voting to ensure they have access to the health care they need," said Jane Kleeb, State Director for Change that Works Nebraska. "Our economy is in crisis and too many families are forced to choose between caring for their sick child and paying their bills. To get our economy back on track, we must fix our healthcare system. We look forward to working with Senator Nelson to get our economy back on track, by fixing our broken healthcare system."

Last week's reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program was touted by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers as an important first step to fix health care. It was our first glimpse of what happens when both parties come together around improving access to quality care.

This was also our first opportunity to show the strength of the movement we're building and to test our ability to mobilize quickly online around important legislation. In short, the results were impressive.

Here are a few statistics about the work you did in support of the Children's Health Insurance Program:

· Online activists made 1,023 calls to members of Congress leading up the votes in the House and Senate. That equated to 4,500 minutes on the phone with 259 different lawmakers.

· Sixteen of the House Republicans we contacted ended up voting in favor of the bill; and 6 of those Representatives had previously been opposed to or undecided on the legislation.

· Online activists also contacted eight of the nine Senate Republicans who voted in favor of the bill.

· After the legislation passed both the House and the Senate, over 1,120 of you sent letters to President Obama through SEIU.org - thanking him for his support of this legislation and letting him know we're going to lead the way on health care for all Americans.

· Our movement is still growing, too. Over 650 of you sent letters to your friends after you contacted President Obama, inviting them to do the same.

We should be proud, and Congress deserves praise for taking immediate steps to protect the health of America's kids. But it doesn't make the health of the other 42 million Americans without insurance any less critical. Congratulations on an early victory; let's not let it take our eyes of the finish line.

Omaha- Last night, U.S. Senator Ben Nelson stood up for Nebraska's children by voting to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), an important first step toward fixing our broken healthcare system. When signed into law by President Obama, four million more American children will receive the health care they need.
 
"Senator Nelson made it clear that he is committed to solving our healthcare crisis," said Suzy Anderson, SEIU Local 226 President.  "We applaud Senator Nelson for strengthening this important program, but taking care of our children is just the first step towards true healthcare reform that guarantees all Americans have access to quality, affordable healthcare."

WASHINGTON, DC - "Today, Congress took a first and important step to rebuilding the American Dream," said SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger as Senators from both parties worked together to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). "Leaders of both parties worked hard to craft this bipartisan bill. It delivers peace of mind for more hard-working parents that the health of their kids will not keep them from affording to put a roof over their family's head.

"We applaud the Senate for strengthening the children's health insurance program and ensuring no child must wait for care. Congress' job is just beginning. We urge Congress to include key health care provisions in its economic recovery package. Let these measures be the start of a broader effort to finally fix our broken health care system."

SEIU, the nation's largest union of health care workers, is helping its 2 million members and community leaders contact their members of Congress. In addition to comprehensive health care reform, members are continuing to talk to their elected officials about the need to pass a large economic recovery package that invests in state and local government to preserve essential services and invests in infrastructure and human services to save and create jobs.

"Our economy is in serious trouble and if we wait to pass health care reform or President Obama's 'American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan' things will only get worse. Congress cannot stop now, they must move forward on delivering help and hope to working Americans and local communities. Only by building a new economy and health care system can we build a new American Dream."

With 2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.

Tonight, after three days of debate on a series of amendments to the bill, the Senate passed the bipartisan Children's Health Insurance Program.

When President Obama signs this bill into law, it will mark day one of changing America's broken health care system. Day one of working together, across the aisle, to implement changes that will have long-lasting effects on the health and well-being of our nation. Day one of shifting focus toward solving the health care crisis--once and for all.

This program will ensure that millions of children, many of whose parents have lost their employer-provided health care coverage through layoffs and cutbacks, will be able to receive doctor check-ups, dentist visits, and preventive care.

But it's also an important day for all of us who've joined together in support of fixing health care. It's evident today that we're building a real, grassroots movement. SEIU's online activists alone banked more than 1,000 calls to Congress in support of the reauthorizing the Children's Health Insurance Program. We called 87 senators - many of them multiple times. Reports even came back from our callers that receptionists seemed "flustered," and "puzzled" by the number of calls they were receiving.

We also learned a lot about what to expect as we continue our movement. Activists like Rose in Indiana discovered that senate offices who opposed us were reluctant to be forthcoming about it on the phone. Rather than discuss the issue directly, they claimed to have no knowledge of the bill.

That didn't stop us, though; and we sent a signal loud and clear: we're paying attention, and we expect results.

We don't have time to waste. It's clear that if we don't find solutions to our ailing health care system, the financial burden placed on Americans will continue to grow.

You can tell President Obama that children's health is just the first step in our movement to fix health care - click here to send him a letter.

Just as we didn't let our setbacks stop us from improving access to health care for kids, we can't let our early victories stop us from winning health care for everyone. Senator Olympia Snowe called this bill "a critical first step towards greater health reform." More than ever, we're ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work - and we expect Congress to do the same.

Take Action Now By Calling Congress to support the Children's Health Insurance Program

The National Journal asked healthcare experts and advocates to weigh in on the reauthorization and strengthening of the Children's Health Insurance Program. SEIU's President Andy Stern's response is below:

"There is strong public support for SCHIP, and strong bipartisan consensus. Experts, pediatricians, and working families agree: The program works. The bill that is being debated this week is essentially the same bill that a veto-proof number of Senators voted for two years ago. The main difference is that this bill says that states have the option of offering coverage to children who are legal immigrants. It should be passed without delay.

"All children deserve to grow up healthy - and ear infections, chicken pox, and childhood accidents affect them all equally. Our kids are our future, and if there's one message that young voters and immigrant voters sent last November, it's that they are so over the tired appeals to categories and ideologies that divide us. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said it best: "Some people want to use this as a debate over immigration," he said. "This isn't a debate over immigration. It's a debate about taking care of our children - children who are here legally."

"The current SCHIP bill includes a provision that would give states the option to enroll lawfully residing immigrant children in the program without a five-year waiting period. Hundreds of local, state, and national organizations have voiced support for the measure - including the National Governors' Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures. They all recognize the cost-effectiveness of providing access to primary and preventative care, and waiting five years to care for a child could lead to long-term ailments or developmental delays. Health does not wait five years. This arbitrary bar placed on hard-working, tax-paying legal immigrants should be lifted.

"At a time when the economy is in crisis and working families are struggling with surging health care costs, Congress should act quickly to reauthorize and strengthen SCHIP. From there, we should move quickly to tackle the other challenges we face in health care - making coverage more affordable, getting a handle on costs while promoting quality, and offering more options for small businesses, early retirees, and others who are poorly served in today's insurance market. Reauthorizing SCHIP is just the beginning. Let's start now."

The Senate is preparing to vote on this critical program tomorrow (Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009). Click here to call your Senators to urge them to vote for the Children's Health Insurance Program and reject any amendment that restricts coverage to legal immigrant children.

Yesterday, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 passed by an overwhelming margin - 289 to 139. If you want to see how your representative voted, click here to see the vote report by state.

This vote came on the heels of a 24 hour flood of phone calls from hundreds of online activists through SEIU's Change That Works campaign. Here are some cool facts about your efforts:

• Through SEIU.org, online activists contacted 172 members of the U.S. House, many of them multiple times. All together, we logged 1,425 minutes on the phone with our members of Congress.
• Of the 40 Republicans who ended up voting for the bill, 16 were contacted by our online activists.
• Of those 16 you contacted, six of them were previously opposed to or undecided about the reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program.

We can expect the Senate to take up this legislation as early as next week; and the vote in the Senate is likely to be closer than in the House.

We'll send more information as the vote approaches so you can help move the Children's Health Insurance Program out of the Capitol and on to President Obama for his signature.

WASHINGTON, DC -- "There is no time to waste. Strengthening the children's health insurance program offers a lifeline to families struggling to survive during this unprecedented economic downturn," said SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger as Democrats and Republicans came together in the U.S. House of Representatives to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). "We urge the Senate to join their House colleagues so more hard-working families have the peace of mind that they do not have to choose between their children's health and paying their mortgage or putting food on the table. SCHIP passage provides both help for families on Main Street as well as a clear first step towards true American health care reform."

SEIU, the nation's largest union of health care workers, is helping its 2 million members and community leaders to contact their members of Congress to share stories from the frontlines of the nation's health care crisis and show the need for immediate action. More than 8 million American children don't have health insurance - children whose parents earn too much to qualify for state aid yet can't afford private insurance. SEIU is urging the new Congress to swiftly pass legislation that makes health care affordable for everyone - and reauthorizing State Children's Health Insurance Program is a key step toward that goal.

"SCHIP is the first step on a path that will make comprehensive health care reform a reality. The House of Representatives sent a signal today that the moment has arrived," Burger said. "Only by insuring the uninsured can we lower health care costs for everyone."

"The next step is clear, the Senate should move to ensure that Americans will no longer accept the moral crime of denying health coverage to children whose parents are legal immigrants," Burger said. "Eliminating the nonsensical provision that withholds SCHIP funding from low-income children and pregnant women who are legal residents during their first 5 years in the U.S. is the right thing to do. Health care is too important an issue and during this time of change in America now is the right time to do it."

I don't often get emotional when I watch C-SPAN, but I just saw something I've been waiting to see for two years. The U.S. House of Representatives, after receiving hundreds of your phone calls, passed the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009.

This is huge - but it's only the first step.

It's the first step in undoing the disastrous policies that have defined eight years of the Bush presidency. Back in 2007, despite broad support from both Democrats and Republicans, President Bush vetoed the Children's Health Insurance Plan - denying coverage for the 4 million kids whose families can't afford health care. This time, when the bill makes its way to the White House, President Obama will be holding the pen.

It's also the first step toward economic recovery. The cost of health care is skyrocketing - outpaced only by the number of families slipping into bankruptcy. The end result is more than 47 million Americans who can't afford basic health care - including more than 8 million children. We can't rebuild our economy without making quality, affordable health care a part of the foundation.

Above all, it's the first step toward fixing our broken health care system. To really get the economy back on track, we must guarantee health care for ALL Americans. Reauthorizing the Children's Health Insurance Program is a great place to start; but we won't stop until every American has quality, reliable health care that they can afford.

Passing the House is also, literally, only the first step toward putting this bill into law. Next it heads to the Senate where, if it passes, it will be sent to the President for a signature.

We've only come this far because of your support. In less than 24 hours, hundreds of activists contacted their Representatives in support of this bill. Thanks to your calls, we've sent a strong message in support of children's health to our Congress - and we've let them know they'll be hearing from us again as we continue our movement to fix health care.

Keep checking back to SEIU.org as this bill moves to the Senate. We need to show them the same intensity we showed with our calls to the House.