[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 128 (Saturday, August 4, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND MEDICARE PROTECTION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2007

  Mr. ANDREWS. Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of the 
``Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007'' (CHAMP or 
H.R. 3162) and would like to take this opportunity to thank the 
distinguished chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. 
John Dingell for the inclusion of my State Health Insurance Program 
(SCHIP) small employer buy-in proposal. He is a good friend and an 
invaluable leader in providing adequate health insurance to all of 
America's children.
  Today, it is estimated that of the 9.4 million uninsured children, 7 
million of them are eligible for SCHIP, but are not enrolled. 
Furthermore, approximately 37 percent of the 6.6 million children 
currently enrolled in SCHIP have parents who work in businesses with 
fewer than 100 employees. Due to the high cost of health insurance in 
the private small group and individual market, many of these parents do 
not have access to affordable health insurance for themselves. To help 
cover these parents and enroll the 7 million uninsured children 
eligible for SCHIP, I believe that one viable solution is for Congress 
to provide small employers access to buy into a public health care 
program, such as the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
  With the support of Chairman Dingell, the CHAMP Act does just that--
it establishes a demonstration program for up to 10 States to offer 
employers and their employees the option to buy into a State's 
children' health insurance program.
  In order for a State to participate in the demonstration program it 
may not impose a waiting list, enrollment cap, or any other enrollment 
limitation on low-income children at or below 200 percent of the 
Federal poverty level (FPL). As for the employer qualifications, 50 
percent of his or her workforce must comprise of full-time employees 
with family incomes at or below 200 percent of the poverty line. 
Furthermore, eligible employees must have at least one eligible SCHIP 
child in their family.
  If an employer agrees to participate, the program requires the 
employer to make a contribution no less than 50 percent of the premium 
toward the family coverage. The employee is required to make a 
contribution no greater than 5 percent of their entire income of the 
premium toward family coverage. The SCHIP funds used to cover the 
eligible children are the only allowable SCHIP funds that may be 
applied toward the family coverage. At the State's discretion, any 
remaining cost of the family coverage may be covered by the employer or 
the State. Specifically, the State may use its own funds or apply an 
access fee to the employer for utilizing the purchasing pooling power 
of their children's health care program.
  As the CHAMP Act moves to conference, I hope my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle will view this demonstration as one viable solution 
to addressing the health care crisis. Again, I thank Chairman Dingell 
for his outstanding leadership and support. At the end of the day, I am 
confident we will accomplish our goal of insuring as many children as 
possible.

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