WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night the House voted 265 to 159 to approve the reauthorization of the bipartisan Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2007, H.R. 976.  Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) celebrated this important victory for tens of thousands of children on the Central and South Coast and ten million children across the country.

“This is a great victory for our children,” said Capps.  “I’ve spent most of my life, first as a school nurse and now as a Member of Congress, working to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of our kids.  This legislation goes a long way toward helping the kids who need it most, get access to critical health care coverage.  Our responsible, bipartisan bill delivers health insurance to children who would otherwise be left without any health care, a vulnerable situation that no parent wants their child to face.  With the House and Senate’s strong endorsement of this legislation, the President’s continued veto threats are both unfortunate and ill-advised.  I hope that in the coming days President Bush will stop playing these petty political games with our children’s health care and sign this much need reauthorization.  After all, no one wants a single child in America to wake up on October 1st without health care because the President couldn’t put aside his misplaced ideological grudges.”

Click here to watch the Congresswoman’s floor speech on the CHIP Reauthorization.

A copy of the Congresswoman’s floor speech as prepared for delivery follows:
Statement of Rep. Capps
CHIP Reauthorization
September 25, 2007
 
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill and in support of America’s children.  We have two choices today.
 
We can vote for this excellent bipartisan bill, which Senator Hatch appropriately called “an honest compromise which improves a program that works.”
 
Or we can vote against this bill and not only deny millions of children the chance to finally access healthcare, but strip it away from children who are already covered.
 
In a perfect world, every parent would have the relief of knowing that their child could get the healthcare services they need.  But the reality is that millions of American parents lack this comfort.  Today we are able to vote for smart legislation that will provide immediate and effective results for 10 million children who will get timely check-ups, vaccinations and treatment for chronic conditions.
 
Trust me, as a nurse I know the power and prudence of providing this healthcare coverage for our kids.  This is indeed an accomplishment Congress can be proud of.
 
As someone who has devoted my life to children’s health and well-being I am frankly appalled by the Bush Administrations’ vehement opposition to a bill that will provide healthcare to millions of low-income children.  This bill is responsible and it’s the right thing to do.
 
Make no mistake, this is a compromise bill.  Of course there are provisions I would have liked to have seen retained from the House-passed bill such as coverage for legal immigrant children and more opportunities for covering parents.  But nonetheless, this reauthorization will protect at-risk children and their families from being forced into the ranks of the already 47 million uninsured in this country.
 
If we fail to pass this bill and even one child loses health coverage, we have failed our most important constituents…our children.
 
I urge my colleagues to join me in strongly supporting this legislation. Vote yes to protect children’s health.  I yield back.

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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.