Health insurance for children of legal immigrants now easier to obtain
Last updated 2-5-09 at 2:16 p.m.
On Jan. 14, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the State Children’s
Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which allows children of legal immigrants
to have access to health insurance. Rep. Mike Honda, chair of the Congressional
Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), along with the leaders of the
Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucuses, pushed to include a provision
in the bill that will allow states to waive the five-year waiting period
for Medicaid and SCHIP on children and pregnant women who are legally
residing in the United States.
“Legal immigrants pay taxes like everyone else [and] send their
sons and daughters to serve in our armed forces. It seems like the least
we can do is to provide basic health insurance to children and pregnant
women. This is also a smart policy since many of early child illnesses
are preventable,” Honda said.
Honda knows how important this bill is because
his constituents in Santa Clara would greatly benefit
from letting children of legal immigrants have
health insurance. Santa Clara County was the first in the country to
ensure that every child with parents who are at or below the poverty
level will have access to health care. The county’s
Children Health Initiative also raised its own
money to add to state and federal funding to help
continue their investment of having healthy children. Last year, the
country set an example for the other 17 counties by enrolling more than
144,000 children.
“The passage of this bill protects the health of millions of
children. It is the first step in a long journey
toward repairing our health care system and providing
universal coverage, care, and access to the people
of our nation,” Honda
said. (end)
For further information, please call (202) 225-2631 or visit www.honda.house.gov/capac.
JAVA scholarship wants qualified high school applicants
Last updated 2-5-09 at 2:18 p.m.
In honor of Major Orville Shirey, Jack Tashior, Douglas Ishio, and
Gene Takahashi, the Japanese American Verterans Association (JAVA)
is holding their second annual memorial scholarship that will provide
three $1,000 scholarships.
Entering college students that qualify for one of
the three $1,000 awards will have until April 22 to submit their entries.
The names of the 2009 scholarship recipients will be announced on May
16.
In announcing the 2009 program, the scholarship program
chair Calvin Ninomiya discussed the changes that
the JAVA’s executive
council has made, which are based on the experiences
learned in administering the inaugural program.
In order to be eligible for this scholarship, applicants
must be entering into an accredited college or university in the fall
of 2009. They will also have to come from a lineal descendent that
has served in the U.S. military, such as a person who served in the
442nd Regimental Combat Team, including the 100th Battalion, and all
other units that were associated with them.
In addition, applicants must write an essay of no
more than 500 words addressing this topic: “What the Winning
of a 2009 JAVA Memorial Scholarship Will Mean to
Me.”
JAVA will try to notify the schools the recipients
attend so appropriate announcements may be included in their commencement
programs.
JAVA hopes that its scholarship awards, particularly
with the current state of the economy, will provide
a boost to at least three 2009 high school graduates
who receive the grant. (end)
For further information, please contact Calvin Ninomiya at calvinnino@aol.com or visit www.javadc.org.
LA woman accused of stealing from Pacquiao
Last updated 2-5-09 at 2:20 p.m.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A woman accused of stealing more than $89,000
from Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao has been charged with grand
theft and forgery.
Pia Anatalia Quijada, 27, was arraigned on Jan. 28
and is being held on $90,000 bail, the district attorney’s office
said in a statement.
Investigators say Quijada forged 32 checks over the
past year and pocketed the money.
A public defender entered a not guilty plea on her
behalf.
Pacquiao, who earned at least $11 million for beating
Oscar De La Hoya last December, knew Quijada because
she was married to the boxer’s driver. Pacquiao asked her for
help with the U.S. banking system, the statement
said. (end)
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