(Washington, DC, September 16, 2004)—Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen, along with her colleagues Delegates Madeleine Bordallo of Guam and Eni Faleomavaega of American Samoa, met yesterday with the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to urge him to keep his promise to provide the Territories with $8 million in additional Medicaid dollars.

Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton promised Delegates Christensen, Bordallo and Faleomavaega to find a way to provide them with the additional funds in exchange for them withdrawing last week’s amendment to the Fiscal Year 2005 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill to temporarily lift the Medicaid Cap and provide the islands with an additional $8 million dollars.

“I want to thank Chairman Barton for his willingness to work with us to address the inequities in the Medicaid funding that we receive,” Christensen said. “We had a very good meeting and the Chairman explained that he was committed to helping us secure the $8 million we were seeking with our amendment, before Congress adjourns this year. He also promised to work with us to hold a hearing on my bill to lift the cap altogether, when Congress reconvenes next year.” If appropriated, the Delegate hopes the money can be used to increase funding to hospitals and the Department of Health.

The Energy and Commerce Committee is the committee in the House of Representatives that has jurisdiction over the Medicaid Program.