[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E796-E797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDES SECURITY ACT OF 1997

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                           HON. MARION BERRY

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 30, 1997

  Mr. BERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my strong support for 
legislation introduced today by Representative Dingell, myself, 
Representative Roukema and others. Our

[[Page E797]]

bill, the Children's Health Insurance Provides Security or ``CHIPS'' 
Act, will help America's children get the preventive health care they 
need to become healthy adults.
  Over 10 million children in this country--a country where over 1 
million children a year are being born into poverty--are currently 
without health insurance. If parents can't afford to purchase health 
insurance, and cannot afford to pay health bills, those bills do not go 
away. No, Mr. Speaker, we all pay for the uninsured.
  Arkansas recognizes that uninsured children need to receive coverage. 
Recently, our State enacted a law that is very similar to the 
legislation we introduced today. In Arkansas, children in families up 
to 200 percent of the Federal poverty level will have affordable, 
accessible health insurance.
  Arkansas has proved that we can solve the problem of uninsured 
children in a fiscally responsible manner, as part of a balanced 
budget. Arkansas is required by State constitution to balance its 
budget each year, and yet it has set aside $11 billion to provide 
health insurance by expanding its Medicaid program.
  The legislation we introduced today is an investment in America's 
future. It is preventive medicine. Think about it--we can provide 
health insurance for children for only $700 a year. That's equal to the 
cost of just one day in the hospital for a child. Or, we can ignore 
this opportunity to invest in prevention and end up spending hundreds 
or thousands of dollars down the road when a child is hospitalized.
  I am proud to be part of this effort today, and I believe that this 
measure should be an integral part of balanced budgets offered by both 
Democrats and Republicans this year. This legislation has bipartisan, 
bicameral support and I urge my colleagues to include its provisions in 
our Nation's budget.

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