WASHINGTON, DC – While supportive of continuing to provide health care coverage for children from low income families, Congressman Randy Neugebauer (TX-19) voted against H.R. 976, legislation that would instead expand the program far beyond its original intent. Originally implemented to provide health coverage for children of low income families, this reauthorization of the State Children’s Insurance Program (SCHIP) takes a dramatic turn by providing health care for upper middle class adults as well as illegal aliens.

“I believe that assisting low income families by providing health care for children is simply the right thing to do. I fully support providing health care for these children and look forward to working with my colleagues in a bipartisan way to craft a good bill that does not turn over health care management to the federal government. I am an original cosponsor of Congressman Barton’s alternative compromise bill that extends the current program for an additional 18 months,” Neugebauer stated.

H.R. 976 is the first step towards a government-run health care system in which bureaucrats in Washington would make medical decisions instead of patients and their doctors.

“The Democrats have drastically altered the scope of this program by adding provisions to provide upper middle class adults with coverage, while at the same time encouraging families to drop private coverage,” Neugebauer added. “This legislation also removes citizenship document requirements, providing a wide open door for illegal aliens to receive government-funded health care. This is an irresponsible policy that uses children as pawns to raise taxes and turn over the management of health care to the federal government.”

The reauthorization of SCHIP would place an increased tax burden on Americans over time. The cost of this expansion is $60 billion over five years, a $35 billion increase over the current program.

“What is most egregious is that this legislation does not plan ahead for the future of children’s health care. This bill mandates a drastic cut in funding by 2013, removing children enrolled in SCHIP and making their future health care uncertain. The American people and especially these children deserve better,” Neugebauer concluded.