Providing for Consideration of H.R. 3963, Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3963, CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - October 25, 2007)

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Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act. This bill will ensure that 10 million of America's children will finally get the health care

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they deserve, preventive health care, not expensive emergency room health care or poor choices.

Recently, my son, Gus, celebrated his first birthday. My whole family joined in celebrating this occasion. Shortly after I returned to Washington, my wife noticed that Gus wasn't feeling well; he was fussing and not sleeping. She was able to take him to the family doctor, who diagnosed a double ear infection, prescribed antibiotics, and Gus is a healthy 1-year-old back on the mend. The thought that any child would suffer through something so preventable in this richest Nation the world has ever seen and a parent would have to make that decision is unacceptable.

Budgets are far more than fiscal documents. They are a moral document that reflects the values of this Nation. Every Member of this House of Representatives speaking against this bill receives taxpayer-funded health care, and their children don't have to make these choices that 10 million do.

I ask that my colleagues join me in doing the right thing, reauthorize with an overwhelming bipartisan majority.

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