[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 103 (Thursday, July 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 2004

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be introducing this 
legislation with Chairman Barton that will protect more than $1 billion 
in State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) funding. This 
funding is scheduled to revert to the Treasury on September 30 if 
Congress does not act.
  The SCHIP program was established in 1997 to reduce the number of 
uninsured children. Since its inception, the program has been a great 
success. Last year, 5.8 million children were enrolled.
  As a result of this success, however, a number of States are 
projected to have insufficient federal funding to sustain their 
existing programs over the next several years. Unless Congress acts, 
more than 200,000 children could lose their health insurance coverage 
as a result.
  The solution Chairman Barton and I are proposing has the support of 
the National Governors Association, along with a number of advocacy 
groups representing the concerns of children.
  I look forward to working together to enact this legislation when we 
return in September.

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