**Many Texas Muslim organizations have thus-far signed-up to this statewide effort to insure Texas children working in conjunction with other Texas faith communities **
F&J wishes every Texan a Ramadan Karim, and happily expresses our pride in the Texas Muslim community welcoming Ramadan by standing up and putting its faith into works to serve all of humanity! F&J called upon all Texas Muslim or Islamic organizations to sign-up to our petition calling upon our legislators to find a method of improving the healthcare coverage of hundreds of thousands of uninsured Texas children. This effort is being sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund Texas and Texas Impact (F&J is an organizational member of Texas Impact, click here to read more on F&J’s affiliation).
Hundreds of congregations (Christian, Jewish and Muslim) have already signed-up to express the faith community’s desire to provide for the most in need amongst us. Two years ago as F&J was leading the effort to pass the Texas Halal Food Law, we watched our state’s elected officials deal with Texas’ worst budget deficit ever. Unfortunately many social programs serving the most in need were cut, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was one of those casualties.
The Texas economy has strengthened over the past two years, and state tax revenues are up. By all the faith communities coming together we hope to convince our elected officials during next January’s legislative session to reinstate the reduced funding for CHIP.
Jointly endorsed resolution:
[Your Organization] joins the Children’s Defense Fund Texas and Texas Impact in celebrating the 13th Annual Children’s Sabbath, a “Texas Healthy Child Weekend for CHIP: Enroll. Renew. Restore”, from October 15-17, 2004. The weekend focuses attention on the importance of children’s access to health care through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
CHIP provides low-cost health insurance for uninsured children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but cannot afford private health insurance. Currently, Texas has the highest rate of uninsured children in the nation, with nearly 1 out of every 5 lacking coverage. Nearly 90% of uninsured children have at least one parent who works full-time. Health insurance is the gateway to the health care children need. Yet, in 2003, the Texas Legislature made sweeping cuts to CHIP.
Enrollment has dropped by more than 151,000 children since the cuts took effect, and all children still enrolled have lost dental, vision and hospice benefits. This Children’s Sabbath, we join other people of faith in calling for the full restoration of the Texas Chip program.
Check this link to see the many participating faith communities on the local and national level: http://www.freeandjust.org/updates/Childrens_Sabbath.htm