[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 22156]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   THE CHAMP ACT AND DEMOCRATIC EFFORTS TO ENSURE MORE CHILDREN HAVE 
                       ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE

  (Mr. WELCH of Vermont asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. The question before the House today is really 
very simple: Will the United States of America, the wealthiest country 
in the world, pass legislation that guarantees access to health care 
for all the children of the citizens of this country?
  Many of our States, including Vermont, have taken the lead. They 
answered that question in the affirmative: The children of working 
parents, children whose parents are doing the right thing, should have 
the health care they need when they need it.
  That has been done on a bipartisan basis. Republican and Democratic 
Governors in my State of Vermont have supported access to health care 
for our kids; 98 percent are covered in Vermont.
  Why is it that this Congress has been unable to take that step until 
today? We will change that. It is the right thing to do. It is good for 
our kids. It is good for our country. It is well within the reach of 
this Congress to do.
  Madam Speaker, I hope that our friends on the Republican side will 
join us in what will be a historic day for our kids.

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