ISSUES ADVOCACY | CURRENT ISSUES

Current Issues and Actions
at Temple Emanu-El

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Did You Know:

Texas has the highest rate of uninsured children in the nation, with 1 in every 5 lacking coverage.
Nearly 90% of uninsured children have at least one working parent, but private health insurance is often too expensive, averaging over $900 a month for family coverage.

CHIP can help by providing low cost health insurance for children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private insurance.

Why Invest in Children's Health Insurance:

Texas receives $2.63 in federal matching funds for every $1 invested in CHIP and $1.54 for every $1 invested in Medicaid.
Children without health coverage often go to crowded emergency rooms for care, which is harmful for children and costly for local taxpayers. According to the Harris County Hospital District, the cost of a preventive visit for a mild asthma attack is $94 to $103. If the child is untreated and is hospitalized for a serious asthma attack for three days - the average stay - the cost is $9,209.

Temple has joined the Texas CHIP Coalition, a statewide coalition working for strong Children's Medicaid and CHIP programs in Texas.

What Can You do to Help.

Contact your State Senator and Representative and urge them to:

Invest in outreach and education to ensure that all eligible children get the care that they need.

Implement 12 months continuous eligibility for CHIP and Children’s Medicaid

Fix problems with the Integrated Eligibility System to prevent eligible kids from losing coverage
Join the Social Justice Advocacy Committee as we work to ensure all Texas children have access to quality, affordable health care/li>

Environmental Action and Advocacy - The Temple Light Bulb Project
Change your light bulbs – Change the world

As Jews, we have a responsibility to respond to the daunting environmental problems confronting us and future generations. Our tradition, values, and teachings speak of our moral obligation to protect creation and repair our world.

Through the Temple Light Bulb Project, congregants can purchase compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) to replace the incandescent light bulbs in their homes. There are many great reasons to switch to CFL’s, including:

Save energy – CFL’s use up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs
Save money – CFL’s last up to 7 years and typically pay for themselves in less than six months in lower electricity costs
Save the world – If every household in the U.S. replaced just one incandescent bulb with a CFL, it would have the same impact as removing one million cars from the road

Power Struggle: Keeping the lights on vs. Breathing clean air

In February, the Social Justice Advocacy Committee sponsored a panel discussion to investigate the issues surrounding the proposed construction of a number of coal-fired electric power plants in Texas. Panelists included both supporters and opponents of the plants along with a journalist and environmental ethicist. Almost 200 people turned out for an informative and lively discussion of this very important issue.

Genocide Threat In Darfur, Western Sudan

A humanitarian crisis is gripping Sudan’s Darfur region. Tens of thousands of innocents have died, while hundreds of thousands others are being displaced from their homes by government-backed militias. This ethnic and religious warfare must stop!

Recently, for the first time in its history, the U.S. Holocaust Museum's Committee on Conscience declared a "Genocide Emergency" in regards to the Darfur situation.

Temple Emanu-El has spearheaded an advocacy project called Dolls for Darfur. For more information, go to www.dollsfordarfur.org and to www.tedallas.org/socialjustice/dollsfordarfur/article.html.

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism has also taken up the fight. Go to www.rac.org for more information.