Schakowsky Statement on the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act

SCHAKOWSKY STATEMENT ON THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT

Washington, D.C.–U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, delivered the following statement on the House floor today in support of H.R. 2, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act. The bill would provide 11 million children with health care over the next four and a half years. H.R. 2 originally passed the House on January 14, 2009 and the Senate approved the bill with some minor changes.

"Madame Speaker, I am delighted to rise today in strong support of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act and thank Chairmen Waxman and Pallone for their hard work on it.

As a mother and a proud grandmother of four, I can think of no higher priority than ensuring that our children get the health care they need. Unfortunately, 7 million children nationally and 350,000 children in Illinois are at risk of losing their coverage if we don't reauthorize this program.

Today's bill will not only prevent SCHIP from expiring on March 31, 2009, but it will also expand coverage to 4 million uninsured children nationally and 300,000 children in Illinois. It makes many needed improvements — adding dental coverage and providing mental health parity. I am particularly pleased that it gives states the discretion to cover more women and children by lifting the 5-year ban for legal immigrants.

I am also pleased that after many thwarted efforts, we finally have a President that will sign this bill into law. This bill represents a renewed commitment to health care and this is the first step in making sure that every child, woman and man in the U.S. has health care that is affordable, accessible and high quality....