RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago is proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world, where one-out-of-five of the city's residents was born outside of the United States; and
WHEREAS, With residents from more than 140 countries and more than 100 languages spoken in our city, Chicago is truly a city of immigrants; and
WHEREAS, The people of Chicago have a long history of opening their arms and homes to the vulnerable and disadvantaged; and
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago has been built on the strength of its immigrant communities; and
WHEREAS, The Covering All Kids Health Insurance Act ("Covering All Kids") provides access to healthcare to 41,000 low-income Illinois children, including low-income citizens and immigrant children; and
WHEREAS, Covering All Kids improves access to preventive and primary care and protects against communicable diseases making our communities healthier; and
WHEREAS, Covering All Kids has resulted in the state of Illinois having the second best record in the nation for providing health insurance to Latino children at 95 percent coverage; and
WHEREAS, Covering All Kids has resulted in the state of Illinois having one of the highest rates of health coverage for all children in the nation, at 96 percent coverage; and
WHEREAS, In 2006 Covering All Kids was passed with a unanimous bi-partisan vote in the Illinois House, and has since enjoyed the support of both Democratic and Republican Governors; and
WHEREAS, Children with health insurance demonstrate positive education outcomes, reducing high school drop out rates, increasing college attainment rates, and reducing absence from school due to illness; and
WHEREAS, Access to healthcare for all children reduces or ends the cost of treating uninsured children in hospitals or institutions, especially costs that are avoidable with good preventive care; and
WHEREAS, Covering All kids is fiscally prudent, as it generates an enhanced Federal match, resulting in a net co...
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