STATEMENT OF REP. JIM RAMSTAD BEFORE THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CALLING FOR THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM

 

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 976, which  extends and expands the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

We have a moral obligation to cover all our children so  every child in America can grow up healthy.  It’s the right thing to do; it’s also the cost-effective thing to do.

The great Minnesotan Hubert H. Humphrey once said that a key moral test of government is how we treat those who are in the dawn of life, the children.  We must not flunk this moral test!

My home state of Minnesota started covering children through its medical assistance program even before SCHIP was created, but we still have far too many children without coverage—73,000 kids.

That’s why I strongly support extending and expanding SCHIP.  I also hope we can work together to provide greater access to private insurance coverage for America’s children and other uninsured Americans.

This SCHIP legislation also avoids cutting any of the payments to Medicare Advantage and other critical programs, as it is financed primarily by a cigarette tax increase.  So this bill will cover our children without cutting benefits for our seniors.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.  With an expiration of this crucial program looming on September 30, we cannot afford to wait any longer.  It’s time to break down the barriers to health care for our kids.  It’s time to reauthorize SCHIP.  It’s time that all kids have a chance to grow up healthy.

Like the U.S. Senate, we should pass this SCHIP reauthorization with a strong bipartisan vote.

Let’s put children’s health first and do the right thing.  Let’s pass this reauthorization of SCHIP and reduce the number of uninsured children by at least 70 percent.

There is no better investment than to invest in the health and well-being of America’s children.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

 

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