Providing for Consideration of H.R. 2, Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009

Floor Speech

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2, CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2009

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

"Madam Speaker, I can think of no more important issue to make my first floor speech on.

I rise in support of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, and I want to thank Speaker Pelosi, who has been an unrelenting champion of this issue. I also want to thank Chairman Rangel and Chairman Dingell for sponsoring the legislation in the 110th Congress, and Chairman Waxman for his leadership on this important issue.

I have already received numerous letters and contacts from constituents who are worried about loss of health care coverage. We have heard from those who have lost their health care coverage or fear they could lose it because they can't afford it. The lack of affordable health care in this country for families is a problem we cannot afford to ignore.

We must ensure that this legislation passes the House and Senate and reaches the new President's desk as soon as possible. This legislation would provide health care coverage for more than 11 million children. In Colorado, there are over 100,000 uninsured children who are eligible for SCHIP and Medicaid but are not yet enrolled. This is critical for our State and for our country."

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source