[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 130 (Wednesday, September 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10081-H10082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CHAMP ACT
(Mr. ARCURI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, last week the Census Bureau came out with
a new report that shows the number of children living without health
insurance increased last year by 700,000. It is the second year in a
row that the number of uninsured children has increased. Today, 8.7
million children in this country are going without the critical health
care services they need to live a healthy and productive life.
Fortunately, this Democratic Congress has acted to reverse this
disturbing trend. Last month, this House passed the Children's Health
and Medicare Protection Act. The legislation provides an additional $50
billion in funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program which
today provides 6 million children access to private health insurance.
Unfortunately, there are 6 million other children that are eligible
for the program but are not currently enrolled. Our $50 billion
investment would allow us to reach almost every
[[Page H10082]]
child who is currently eligible which would significantly reduce the
number of uninsured children in America.
Madam Speaker, this Congress has acted. It is time for the President
to join with us in prioritizing the health care needs of our children.
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