Rep. Maloney on Revised Children’s Health Insurance Bill

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) released the following statement today after voting for the revised Children’s Health Insurance bill (H.R. 3963), which passed the House, 265 to 142.  Earlier this month, President Bush denied 10 million low-income children health insurance when he vetoed the original bipartisan Children’s Health Insurance bill.  

“This important bill will guarantee health care coverage for 10 million children.  Much like the original bipartisan bill that Congress passed, this revised bill will preserve coverage for all 6.6 million children currently covered by SCHIP, and reach millions more children who are currently eligible but not yet enrolled in the SCHIP program.

“We cannot allow our children to slip through the cracks.  The President has a chance to finally get this right and demonstrate his commitment to the health and well-being of our nation’s children.  Hopefully he will do the right thing this time around. 

“Democrats reached out to Republicans again to craft this revised bill, and addressed the concerns that were raised with the original bill.  The American people will soon see whether these were legitimate concerns or merely political excuses.” 

On October 2, the Congress sent the President H.R. 976, the bipartisan State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill.  The legislation passed by strong bipartisan votes of 265 to 159 in the House, and 67 to 29 in the Senate.  The President vetoed the bipartisan bill on October 3, denying 10 million children health care coverage. 

Congress is acting quickly to pass this revised SCHIP bill because the program’s short-term extension expires on November 16.  The Senate is expected to pass the revised bill next week.

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