Democrats Strengthen Successful Children's Health Insurance Program

Press Release

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) applauded the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 (CHAMP Act) in remarks delivered on the floor of the U.S House of Representatives.

The CHAMP Act reauthorizes and builds on the success of the Children's Health Insurance Program, as well as ensuring seniors continue to have access to health care by halting payment cuts to physicians in the Medicare program. The legislation provides $50 billion in new funding to give states the tools to reach and enroll nearly all of the 6 million eligible, but uninsured children, including 37,000 in Connecticut .

"The State Children's Health Insurance Program has been a powerfully effective tool in our effort to reduce the number of uninsured in this country. It can and will be strengthened to provide health care to the 6 million eligible-but-still-uninsured children in this country. We all have a stake and an obligation in solving the health care crisis. No one - not even the president - should be able to undermine the great promise of a healthy future for our children," said DeLauro.

The successful SCHIP was created in 1997 and has been critical to reducing by one-third the number of uninsured low income children. The program, however, is set to expire September, 30, 2007. Despite broad support for SCHIP, the President wants to limit the program, which would ultimately result in the loss of coverage for children. Connecticut residents disagree. According to a survey conducted by the New England Alliance for Children's Health nine in ten (89%) favor expanding the program to cover all uninsured children. Seven in ten (70%) voters want Congress to increase funding to expand SCHIP. And 94% agree that HUSKY is a smart investment because preventative care can avoid costly emergency room visits later.

Below is DeLauro's floor statement (as prepared for delivery).

"We all pay the price when 46 million Americans - 9 million of them children - who have no health insurance. We all have a responsibility - a moral responsibility - to fix this broken system and make sure our most vulnerable get the health care coverage they need.

"I know we can do better, because we already have, in many states across the country. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is perhaps the best social policy success story of the last decade. When it began in 1997 - President Clinton said SCHIP would cover 5 million children. Today we have covered 6 million nationwide. But we have a long way to go, and we cannot afford to delay any longer. In my state, Connecticut 's HUSKY program - encompassing Medicaid and SCHIP - is increasing access to quality care for more children - covering 17,000 children - and continuing to find innovative ways to cover more children.

"Unfortunately, at a time when most Americans want to see this powerfully effective program reaching more of the 6 million eligible-but-still-uninsured children, this administration's proposal would result in hundreds of thousands of children losing their coverage. Well that is the wrong direction and it is the wrong choice for our country.

"This is about recognizing and embracing our nation's most serious and constant challenge - a challenge that the federal government has the ability, the capacity, the resources, and the moral obligation to help us meet.

"The Act will take us in the right direction, reaching those children most in need, while making sure other vulnerable populations are not forced off the rolls.

"The Act will improve Medicare for 44 million seniors and people with disabilities, protecting Medicare physicians from a 10% payment decrease -- so seniors have access to the doctors of their choice, especially in rural areas where options are already limited.

"We all have a stake and an obligation in solving this crisis. No one - not even the president - should be able to undermine the great promise of a healthy future for our next generation."

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