[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 45 (Thursday, March 15, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S3204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. CLINTON:
  S. 895. A bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act 
to ensure that every child in the United States has access to 
affordable, quality health insurance coverage, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on Finance.
  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I was proud to help create the State 
Children's Health Insurance Program during the Clinton Administration. 
It has provided health insurance for 6 million children, including more 
than 425,000 in New York. SCHIP was the biggest expansion in providing 
health insurance coverage in more than 30 years--a big first step to 
providing quality health care coverage for all children.
  And now it is time to take the next step. Today, I am introducing new 
legislation with my colleague from the House of Representatives, 
Chairman Dingell: a plan to make quality affordable health care 
available to every child in America.
  The Children's Health First Act will make quality, affordable health 
care available to all children, and will pave the way to cover the more 
than nine million children in our country without health coverage.
  Our bill cuts red tape to allow States to provide affordable 
healthcare options for all families to cover their children. It gives 
States the financial incentives and resources to expand--existing State 
coverage and find and enroll the 6 million children who are currently 
eligible for health coverage but are not enrolled. And it provides 
incentives to expand employer sponsored coverage for children.
  As individuals and as a Nation, an ounce of prevention is truly worth 
a pound of cure. Health care accessible and affordable for all children 
will keep kids healthy, save lives, control costs, and end heartache 
and worry for so many parents. This plan is practical and fiscally 
responsible--it will honor our values and prevent kids from needing 
more costly healthcare in the future.
  Our bill will provide incentives for States to expand SCHIP to more 
children and provide health coverage for children up to 400 percent of 
poverty, about $70,000 for a family of three.
  Parents whose incomes are above their State's SCHIP eligibility 
levels and employers who want to provide coverage to dependents will 
also have the option to buy-in to the SCHIP program. This will ensure 
that all families have access to affordable coverage and aren't forced 
into the private insurance market where affordable options for their 
children are often out of reach.
  And while expanding coverage is critical, enrolling children who are 
already eligible must also be part of our efforts to ensure every child 
has health insurance.
  Currently, there are 6 million uninsured children who are eligible 
for public programs but not enrolled. In order to receive expanded 
Federal funding under our bill, States must undertake strategies 
designed to enhance outreach and enrollment of currently eligible 
children.
  In addition, the Children's Health First Act would prevent funding 
shortfalls like those that 14 States are currently facing. Unlike the 
original SCHIP bill our legislation would determine funding based on 
State spending and indexed to medical inflation and child population 
growth so that states will get the funds they need.
  Every child deserves a healthy start in life. This goes to the heart 
of our values, our responsibility to one another, the promise of our 
country. Far too many children in our Nation--more than 9 million--do 
not have health care. And, for the first time in nearly a decade, 
between 2004 and 2005, the number of uninsured children in New York 
increased by 61,000--part of a trend nationally.
  It's simply wrong that there are working parents who worry about 
their children playing sports because they can't afford a doctor if 
their child gets hurt. I've met parents who when their children get 
sick fret and worry about their children's illness--but have the added 
anxiety of wondering how they are going to pay for the doctor visit. 
That just shouldn't happen.
  No child in America, the greatest, richest Nation on Earth home to so 
much promise, should lack for the care he or she needs to grow up to be 
a healthy, happy adult.
  We can tackle this challenge--and provide access to quality, 
affordable health care for all children in America. It's the right 
thing to do, and it's the smart thing to do.
  I am proud to introduce this legislation. It will help us honor our 
values, protect our children. We can meet this challenge and that's 
what I'll be working with Chairman Dingell and my Senate colleagues to 
achieve this year.
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