Civil Rights Groups Call for Health Coverage for Millions of Uninsured Children and Pregnant Women

The newly-formed coalition is urging Congress to pass legislation this year that guarantees that all children and pregnant women have access to comprehensive, affordable health care.

The United States has “one of the highest low-weight birth rates in the world,” said Marian Wright Edelman, president of CDF.  Ms. Edelman added that we must stop “the cradle to prison pipeline” by focusing on prevention, starting with prenatal care, which “saves money and saves lives.”

For the Asian American community, “children are largely from first- and second-generation immigrant families and have an uninsured rate of 12 percent,” said Vincent Eng, deputy director of the AAJC. He added that language barriers often prevent Asian American women and children from accessing the health care they need.

Native Americans, especially those who live on reservations, face challenges such as severe underfunding for public health programs and a lack of health care providers, according to NCAI executive director Jacqueline Johnson Pata.  “We stand strong with this coalition to ensure we all are part of this important debate and urge Congress to act on this year to include every child in America in health care coverage.” 

The newly-formed coalition is urging Congress to pass legislation this year that guarantees that all children and pregnant women have access to comprehensive, affordable health care.

The United States has “one of the highest low-weight birth rates in the world,” said Marian Wright Edelman, president of CDF.  Ms. Edelman added that we must stop “the cradle to prison pipeline” by focusing on prevention, starting with prenatal care, which “saves money and saves lives.”

For the Asian American community, “children are largely from first- and second-generation immigrant families and have an uninsured rate of 12 percent,” said Vincent Eng, deputy director of the AAJC. He added that language barriers often prevent Asian American women and children from accessing the health care they need.

Native Americans, especially those who live on reservations, face challenges such as severe underfunding for public health programs and a lack of health care providers, according to NCAI executive director Jacqueline Johnson Pata.  “We stand strong with this coalition to ensure we all are part of this important debate and urge Congress to act on this year to include every child in America in health care coverage.”