Most Americans consider children's health care a top priority for the government, and they are willing to help finance insurance coverage for children, according to a recent public opinion survey. Seventy percent of likely voters agree that providing affordable, quality health insurance to all children in the U.S. should be a top priority of Congress and the president.

In addition, 65 percent of the 800 voters surveyed said that the federal government should take financial responsibility to cover uninsured children.

The opinion survey, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies of Alexandria, Va., also found that 80 percent of voters surveyed would be willing to pay more taxes to finance expanded coverage.

"The opinion survey continues to show that a large swath of the public is ready and willing to support children's health coverage," explained Sr. Carol Keehan, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association (CHA), which has joined with other national groups in the Campaign For Children's Health Care. The campaign represents an initiative to raise awareness of the more than 9 million children who have no health coverage in the U.S.

The campaign involves collecting signatures on an electronic petition (www.chausa.org/kids) that calls on Congress and the president to make health care for children a top priority. The petition takes only seconds to complete.

The goal is to "unite all Americans around a common concern for the health and the well-being of our children," said Sr. Carol Keehan, at a press conference launching the campaign. "What could be more important? What child is not worth an investment in health care by the wealthiest nation on earth?"

Campaign organizers plan to deliver signed petitions to Capitol Hill next spring, when Congress will be debating reauthorization of the 10-year-old State Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides assistance to millions of families.

To help reduce the number of uninsured children, CHA has called on its members-and the general public-to sign the electronic petition and add their voices to the growing chorus of those calling for a health care system that serves our most vulnerable, including children.