Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009
Floor Speech
CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2009 -- (House of Representatives - February 04, 2009)
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Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support for the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009.
This bipartisan legislation will improve the very successful State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The message and the substance of this bill is clear--we are going to preserve coverage for the 7 million children currently enrolled who otherwise have no access to health insurance while extending coverage to 4 million children who are from working families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but do not earn enough to afford the very high costs of private health insurance.
By reauthorizing this important program through 2013, we will strengthen CHIP's financing, improve the quality of health care children receive, and increase health insurance coverage for low-income children. The Congressional Research Service projects that under this legislation, Maryland's CHIP allotment will increase by 162 percent. The bill is fully paid for by a 62 cent increase in federal excise taxes on cigarettes. Increasing the tobacco tax will save millions of children from tobacco addiction and save billions in health care costs. The 2000 U.S. Surgeon General's report found that increasing the price of tobacco products will decrease the prevalence of tobacco use, particularly among kids and young adults.
Just two weeks ago, a new President was sworn into office--President Obama. Passing this bill and sending it to his desk now sends a very important signal that change has come as a result of the last election. President Obama's predecessor twice vetoed this legislation. The new President will sign this legislation into law because he understands the hardships that American families are struggling under at a time when millions of Americans have lost their jobs and lost health coverage for their children.
Madam Speaker, let's look out for America's children by providing them the health insurance coverage they deserve. I urge my colleagues to vote for this much-needed legislation.
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