[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 14, 2009

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2, the 
Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009. This 
bill represents a strong bipartisan first step to reform our broken 
health care system by guaranteeing that millions of uninsured children 
will have the health care that they need. Its passage will bring a 
symbolic end to the broken promises of the Bush Administration, which 
twice chose to deny coverage to 4 million children in desperate need of 
health care.
  Over the past decade the State Children's Health Insurance Program 
(SCHIP) has helped reduce the number of uninsured children by one-third 
and has made significant progress in improving the health of low-income 
children. H.R. 2 will reauthorize this critical program until 2013, 
ensuring that 7 million children currently covered by SCHIP continue to 
receive health coverage. Equally as important, this bill will extend 
health coverage to an additional 4 million low-income children who are 
currently uninsured.
  The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 
strengthens SCHIP by including incentives for states to develop 
effective outreach and enroll more eligible children. In addition, the 
bill improves access to both mental health services and dental health 
care, and offers states the option to cover targeted low-income 
pregnant women as a way to provide the essential prenatal care that can 
help reduce birth defects.
  I am particularly grateful that our leadership has chosen to include 
the provisions of the Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act in 
this SCHIP reauthorization. This provision will restore the states' 
option to provide coverage to legal immigrant children who meet all 
other eligibility criteria, thereby seizing the opportunity to address 
health disparities in communities of color that historically have had 
very poor access to health care.
  Madam Speaker, I believe this bill takes a giant step forward in 
honoring our moral imperative to ensure that age, race and income do 
not determine the health status of our children. I am proud to vote for 
its passage today, to protect our commitment to our children, and to 
offer them the promise of a healthier tomorrow.

                          ____________________