• Issue Briefs and Other Resources

• See also Congressional Developments

Issue Briefs and Other Resources

   RESOURCES FROM NILC

Facts about the Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act (ICHIA).  Why legislation is needed | Primary health care for children and pregnant women saves money | Immigrants should benefit from health programs supported by their taxes | Flexibility and fiscal relief for states (PDF) (updated 3/08)

• ICHIA is supported by over 600 organizations in 50 states.  Click here to read the letter and the list of organizations that have signed it. (Updated 6/5/07)

Letter to senators urging legislation to benefit immigrant children.  Letter signed by 334 organizations urges Senators to "return honesty, realism, and integrity to the debate on health care" -- and to pass health care legislation that would benefit immigrant children. (12/12/07)

NILC Urges Congress to Honor Its Commitment to Immigrant Children.  NILC is bitterly disappointed that Congress has failed yet again to address the health needs of immigrant children and pregnant women. (Posted 9/28/07)

   NON-NILC RESOURCES

Statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics' on SCHIP reauthorization, calling for coverage of lawfully residing immigrant children and pregnant women.  (Posted 6/14/07)

Letter from the National Governors Association to Senate Finance Committee leadership re: governors' priorities for 2007 reauthorization of SCHIP, which includes covering lawfully residing immigrant children and pregnant women, a long-standing NGA policy. (6/7/07)

Faith Community Supports ICHIA: The heads of 20 national religious organizations representing 50 million Americans joined with PICO National Network and the National Council of Churches USA in asking Senate Finance Chair Baucus and Majority Leader Reid to allow states to "cover pregnant women and legally documented immigrant children" as part of the 2007 SCHIP reauthorization. (6/7/07)

Letter from California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to leadership of the Senate Finance Committee supporting inclusion of ICHIA in SCHIP reauthorization.  (6/5/07)

Letter from California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee supporting inclusion of ICHIA in SCHIP reauthorization.  (6/5/07)

"Health Care Opinion Leaders' Views on Priorities for SCHIP Reauthorization," by Katherine K. Shea, Karen Davis, Anne Gauthier, Rachel Nuzum, Barry Scholl, and Edward L. Schor (The Commonwealth Fund, Apr. 25, 2007).

• The 10th Commonwealth Fund Health Care Opinion Leaders Survey highlighted the perspectives of a diverse group of experts on issues related to reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in 2007.  91% of these leaders support ensuring low-income legal immigrant children are eligible for SCHIP.

Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act Fact Sheet (California Immigrant Policy Center, May 2007).

"Reducing Disparities in Health Coverage for Legal Immigrant Children and Pregnant Women," by Leighton Ku, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Apr. 20, 2007.

More information about ICHIA is available on the "Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act" web page of the National Council of La Raza.

The "Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act of 2007" was introduced in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on March 5, 2007. The bill numbers are S 764 and HR 1308, respectively. The full text of the bills is available from http://thomas.loc.gov/.