[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S949-S950]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, let me say I share the view of the 
majority leader that we debate and vote on a number of amendments 
today. That certainly is our plan on this side of the aisle.
  With regard to the SCHIP legislation, I do think we had a good day of 
debate yesterday, in spite of the interruptions the majority leader 
referred to in relation to the Finance Committee and the Appropriations 
Committee action on the stimulus package. I know Members of both 
parties were participating in that business most of the day. I 
particularly compliment Senators Coburn and Burr for the outstanding 
job they did managing the Republican time while our colleagues were 
occupied at that markup.
  Republicans are committed to making sure every child has access to 
affordable health insurance. But there are some pretty important 
differences between Republicans and Democrats in how we get there.
  Today the Senate will vote on our Republican alternative, the Kids 
First Act. To remind our colleagues, the Kids First Act refocuses SCHIP 
on its intended purpose, which is providing insurance to low-income, 
uninsured children.
  The Kids First Act closes a number of loopholes and gimmicks that are 
being used to expand the definition of ``low income'' to families 
making up to $88,000 a year. I don't know anyone in Kentucky who would 
characterize $88,000 a year as low income.
  Some States have used SCHIP to cover adults--remember, this is a 
program for children--even when thousands of eligible low-income 
children

[[Page S950]]

are still lacking coverage. It is worth repeating. Insurance for 
children is being used instead for adults. That is wrong, and the Kids 
First Act would ban such practices.
  The CBO reports that our legislation will provide coverage to nearly 
2 million low-income children who currently lack health insurance, and 
it does so in a fiscally responsible manner without raising taxes.
  I know many of my Republican colleagues have other commonsense ideas 
to improve this legislation, and those will be offered. Republicans 
understand taxpayer resources are too scarce to be squandered away by 
waste, fraud or abuse. And Republicans are prepared to offer amendments 
to fix those problems and make the bill better.
  For example, one provision of the bill allows a select few States to 
expand coverage to more than three times the Federal poverty level. Let 
me say that again. One of the provisions in the underlying bill allows 
a few States to expand coverage to more than three times the Federal 
poverty level. We don't think it is fair to provide special treatment 
to certain States, and we expect an amendment to address that 
situation.
  The bill also provides Government health insurance to 2.4 million 
kids who already have health insurance, providing Government-paid 
insurance to kids who already have health insurance. Republicans 
believe those kids should be able to keep the coverage they have, and 
we will have amendments to let kids who already have health insurance 
keep that coverage, freeing more resources for kids who are actually in 
need.
  Just as working families are trying to get the most out of every 
dollar, Republicans believe Government needs to do the same thing by 
rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in all programs, including Medicaid 
and SCHIP.
  These are a few of the ideas we will be discussing today and tomorrow 
as the Senate continues this very important debate.
  I yield the floor.

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