CONGRESSMAN CITES “NEW JERSEY KIDS COUNT” REPORT
WASHINGTON- -U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) today questioned the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt on cuts to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). Pascrell cited statistics from the Association for Children of New Jersey’s “New Jersey Kids Count” study that reported a nine percent increase in uninsured children between the years 2001 and 2005.
“It is shameful that thousands of New Jersey children have been dropped from health insurance plans because this Administration has cut health care funding. In just five years the number of uninsured children in New Jersey has increased by nine percent to a staggering total of 251,000.
“Instead of covering more children, the Administration’s proposal to reduce S-CHIP will increase the number of uninsured New Jersey children. The Administration’s formula for funding S-CHIP further threatens New Jersey by failing to take our high cost of living into account. Secretary Leavitt must implement a mechanism to ensure equal access to S-CHIP that considers the high cost of living in states like New Jersey.
“The New Jersey Kids Count report brought important figures to light that we must embrace to stem the growing number of children living in poverty. Last week Congress took a step in the right direction by voting to fund the S-CHIP program in a way that would keep New Jersey’s program running. Secretary Leavitt and the Bush Administration should take a page from our play book.”
On February 5, 2007, President George W. Bush submitted his fiscal year 2008 budget to Congress. The budget detailed his tax, spending and policy proposals for the coming year, including his proposed budget for the Department of Health and Human Services. Many of the Department’s programs – such as Medicare, efforts to assist those who lack health insurance, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and other income security efforts – are within the Committee’s jurisdiction.
###
|