Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007

Floor Speech

CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007 -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 26, 2007)

SPEECH OF HON. KEITH ELLISON OF MINNESOTA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2007

* Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the SCHIP bill that will provide millions of children in America with health coverage. The bill passed Tuesday, 265-159.

* The bi-partisan compromise will include $35 billion more for the SCHIP program allowing Congress to cover 4 million more additional children, bringing the total number of children covered to 10 million. Next year alone, this new SCHIP bill will provide Minnesota with $50 million in additional dollars to help insure Minnesota's children.

* This compromise reauthorizing SCHIP is supported by 43 Governors, 16 of them Republican, including Republican Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and my home state Governor Tim Pawlenty.

* But unfortunately, Madam Speaker, it has been widely reported that the President has promised to veto this bill to provide children with health care.

* Last February, I spoke on the floor of the House to criticize the budget cuts contained in the President's budget. Like the budget, we could easily look at the SCHIP bill and say, this is all about numbers, it is just a plan and it is an impersonal thing. But, in fact, Madam Speaker, this bill is a moral statement about who matters in our society.

* This bill is a reflection of our own humanity. It talks about who counts, who doesn't, who matters, who doesn't, and what are our priorities.

* As the late Senator and former Vice President Hubert Humphrey from my State of Minnesota stated so eloquently:

* ``The moral test of any government is how it treats those in the dawn of life, the children; those in the dusk of life, the elderly; and those in the shadow of life, the disadvantaged.''

* The SCHIP bill brought to the House floor today clearly shows the priorities of this Congress.

* We are for children having access to health insurance.

* We are for providing health care for 4 million additional children.

* We are for families not having to worry about the health care for their children.

* This SCHIP bill is a clear measure that Congress values the hardworking energy, the blood, sweat and tears of Minnesotans or Americans.

* Mr. President, let's not play politics with the health care of our nation's children. Step up to plate and truly leave no children behind by signing this SCRIP bill into law.

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