Families speak for CHIP

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Families concerned about funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program gathered here to express their hope the program would continue.

People who have children covered by the free and low-cost federal- and state-funded programs talked Wednesday at the Lawrence County Head Start building about the benefit they see in the program.

It is used by many working families who make too much money to qualify for public assistance coverage, but too little to buy private health insurance.

Alexis Shoaff of New Castle has four children, and the insurance was particularly useful when one of the children ended up in the hospital for three days, she said.

U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire of McCandless, D-4th, said the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill adding 5 million more children to the program.

Similar legislation was passed by the U.S. Senate, but President Bush wants to cut coverage for 1 million children. Altmire said a resolution must be reached by Sept. 30 or the health coverage would suffer.