Politics

One Step Closer to Health Care for 11 Million Children

By Karina

Today, the House passed the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, H.R. 2 by a vote of 289-139. This legislation expands the State Children?s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to cover 11 million children. The program currently provides health insurance for more than 7 million children, but this legislation will protect coverage for those children and expand it to include an additional 4 million children who would otherwise be uninsured. Similar legislation was vetoed twice in the last Congress by President Bush.

Learn more about the legislation>>

Speaker Pelosi:

Speaker Pelosi: “At a time of economic crisis, nothing could be more essential than ensuring that children of working families receive the quality health care they deserve….Many of these children are from families of hardworking Americans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. It’s sad to say that America lost 2.6 million jobs last year. Over half a million jobs were lost in the month of December. With such job loss, America sees the health care coverage that we all need for our children disappear.”

Rep. Chris Van Hollen:

Rep. Chris Van Hollen: “The current President used his mighty veto pen to say no - to veto and protect the status quo. The new President will use that pen to say yes, to change the status quo and provide health care to 4 million new American children…That’s change we can believe in.”

Rep. John Lewis:

Rep. John Lewis: “We have a mission, an obligation, and a mandate, to provide health insurance to all Americans, and now we have a Congress and a President who will meet that obligation for our children. It has taken too long.”

Rep. Diana DeGette:

Rep. Diana DeGette: “In the face of the current economic downturn, it is even more vital that we enact this bill. Sharp increases in unemployment are adding to the ranks of the uninsured, while at the same time state budgets are shrinking and the safety net is struggling to meet this increased demand.”

Rep. Bill Pascrell:

Rep. Pascrell: “You can’t have it both ways, you can’t have be for it and then you’re gonna vote against it. I’m listening to many people on the other side — substance is more important than process, you don’t get it, you don’t understand…We need to at least take care of the children of our country. You say you agree with it, but then you gotta vote for it.”

Full post as published by The Gavel on January 14, 2009 (boomark / email).