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Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, gave the following statement on the House floor this afternoon urging support of H.R. 2, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009. The New Jersey congressman is the lead sponsor of the legislation, which will ensure that 11 million American children have access to quality health care coverage.
"Madam Speaker, we have been working to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for the past two years. In the last Congress, we passed legislation that enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support.
"Unfortunately, it did not enjoy the support of the president, who vetoed our bill not once, but twice, and went on to proclaim that uninsured children can simply go to the emergency room to have their medical needs met.
"However, this is a new day in Washington. Soon we will have a new president who has committed himself to reforming our nation's health care system so every American can access affordable and quality health care. The bill we are considering today makes a down-payment on that promise by putting the health and well-being of our children first.
"Madam Speaker, this legislation will provide approximately $33 billion for states to help strengthen and expand their programs. In addition to more financial resources, we are providing States with new tools to help facilitate enrollment of children who might be eligible for CHIP but remain un-enrolled.
"Accordingly, this bill will provide health care coverage for approximately 11 million children. H.R. 2 would protect coverage for 7 million children presently enrolled in CHIP and cover approximately 4.1 million additional children who would otherwise be uninsured.
"Madam Speaker, we are now nearing the goal line, and with not a moment to spare. As the nation moves deeper into a recession and unemployment rates continue to rise, millions of Americans are joining the ranks of the uninsured, including millions of American children.
"We cannot further delay enacting this vital legislation. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill."
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