Bipartisan Congressional and Religious Leaders to Urge Override of Presidential SCHIP Veto

PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW AT NOON

Monday, October 01, 2007

Anticipating a veto by President Bush of the SCHIP legislation on Tuesday, congressional leaders from both parties and prominent religious leaders will participate in a press conference to speak to the very conscience of our nation about the need to override the veto in the Senate and the House. The religious leaders represent millions of faithful people who support expanding health care coverage to all of America’s children, particularly the most vulnerable. Over the past few weeks, Sojourners, the largest national network of progressive Christians, PICO (Pacific Institute for Community Organizations) and Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good have been working together to mobilize thousands of clergy across the country to support passage of the SCHIP legislation.

Who:
Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan
Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver, D-Missouri
Congresswoman Heather Wilson, R- New Mexico

Religious Leaders Participating:

Rev. Jim Wallis, Executive Director of Sojourners and best-selling author of God’s Politics
Sister Simone Campbell, SSS – Executive Director, Network, a national Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Father Ray East - Executive Director, Office of Black Catholics, Archdiocese of Washington
Rev. Wes Granberg - Michaelson-General Secretary, Reformed Church of America
Dr. Glenn Palmberg-President of the Evangelical Covenant Church
Rev. Sharon Watkins , General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Heyward Wiggins, PICO National Network and others.

Where: U.S. Capitol, Room S115 (NOTE; Mult-box may not be available)

When: Tuesday October 2nd 12:00PM, Noon

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CONTACT: Jack Pannell, Sojourners, 202/745-4614, media@sojo.net