September 18, 2008

Dear Partners,

We wanted to let you know about a sign-on letter that is currently being circulated by First Focus, the National Association of Children's Hospitals, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Voices for America's Children, and the Alliance for Children and Families to urge the Senate Finance Committee to include children’s unique health issues as an important element in any health reform that Congress considers.  We strongly encourage your organization to sign-on to this letter.

To date, the Senate Finance Committee has held a number of hearings and other events to gather information on health reform issues, but has yet to directly address children’s health issues. This letter calls on Finance Committee leaders to make sure that children's health concerns receive the consideration they deserve. 

ACTION STEP:
Sign-on your organization to this letter being sent to the Senate Finance Committee leaders Baucus and Grassley, urging them to discuss children’s health issues in their hearings on health reform. 

If your organization would like to lend its support, please email your organization’s name, location and a contact person to signon@firstfocus.net.  The deadline to sign the letter is close of business this Friday, September 19.  The letter will be sent to the Hill early next week to coincide with the final hearing in a series of hearings that Baucus is holding on health reform.

Thank you for your continued dedication to children’s health. We will continue to keep you informed about any new developments. And as always, please feel free to contact me (617-275-2929, arosenthal@communitycatalyst.org) directly with questions.

Sincerely,

Amy Rosenthal
Project Director