[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 166 (Tuesday, October 30, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3963, CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE 
                  PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 25, 2007

  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3963, the 
Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007.
  For the past several months, Congress has debated an issue that 
should not be considered controversial--the healthcare of our Nation's 
most vulnerable children. The reauthorization of the State Children's 
Health Insurance Program, SCHIP, is vitally important for the Nation 
and particularly my district of El Paso, Texas, where currently, over 
14,000 children in El Paso County are enrolled in the program.
  In El Paso, with thousands of children who rely on SCHIP for a 
scheduled checkup or to receive items like eyeglasses and prescription 
drugs, this program is critically important. Health care is extremely 
expensive, and SCHIP is not only vital to children and families, but is 
important to our health care infrastructure overall. Our health care 
delivery system in the border region and across the country is already 
challenged as it is. Cutting SCHIP funding would only result in a 
greater burden on our hospitals. Without access to doctors for regular 
checkups and routine appointments, families would potentially wait 
until health problems reach catastrophic level and then seek care at 
the local emergency room. This is dangerous for children and families, 
and would also result in a much more expensive form of health care 
delivery.
  Today's bill reauthorizes SCHIP for 5 years while providing health 
care coverage for 10 million of our Nation's children. The bill does 
not expand coverage; rather it allows those currently eligible, but 
uninsured, the opportunity to enroll. Two-thirds of uninsured children 
are currently eligible for coverage through SCHIP or Medicaid, and 
today's bill provides the funding necessary to administer proper 
outreach to those qualified for the program.
  I applaud Mr. Dingell and Mr. Rangel for their leadership in reaching 
an agreement that included some of the concerns voiced by Republicans 
who originally voted against the legislation.
  The health and quality of life of our children must be a priority, 
and I firmly believe that this bill addresses the need to provide 
quality healthcare to our Nation's uninsured children. This legislation 
received strong bipartisan support in the House, and I call on 
President Bush to stop playing political games with our children's 
healthcare.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.

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