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.

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