Kids, Healthcare Workers, Clergy, Elected Leaders And Others To Hold Vigil For Children's Healthcare

D.C. EVENT IS ONE OF OVER 300 VIGILS NATIONWIDE

WASHINGTON, DC - Hundreds of healthcare workers, parents, children, clergy, elected officials and concerned citizens will gather for a vigil near the Capitol this Tuesday, October 16, as part of a final push to win healthcare for nearly 10 million children.

On Tuesday evening at 5:30 p.m., the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) will host a prayer vigil and rally, urging Congress to override President Bush's SCHIP veto.  The event is the culmination of a national grassroots and advertising campaign, and will take place two days prior to the scheduled veto override vote.

The Capitol Hill vigil is one of over 300 vigils taking place nationwide on Tuesday, sponsored by SEIU, ACORN, Americans United for Change, Catholics United, Move On, PICO National Network, US Action, and other allied groups.  In communities across the country, people of faith will join together with other concerned citizens to press their elected leaders to stand up for healthcare for kids.

Speakers at the Washington, DC, vigil will include the parents of Bethany Wilkerson, a 2 year-old with a heart condition who receives health coverage through SCHIP; SEIU Executive Vice President Gerry Hudson; Sister Marge Clark of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary; SEIU Healthcare Chair Dennis Rivera; AFL-CIO President John Sweeney; Change To Win Executive Director Greg Tarpinian; U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and John Kerry (D-MA); House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI), and U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ); and others to be named.

VIGIL FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE

Tuesday, October 16
5:30 p.m.
Upper Senate Park, Capitol Hill
(Constitution Ave. between Delaware and NJ Aves.)

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