[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 21]
[House]
[Page 28835]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH

  (Mr. CARNAHAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, the Children's Health Insurance Program 
is one of the most effective government programs of the last decade. 
For an investment of just $3.50 a day, we can ensure health care for 
that child who would otherwise fall through the cracks because their 
family makes too much for Medicaid but can't afford private health 
insurance.
  This small cost is significantly less than the cost we all bear when 
uninsured children fail to receive preventative care and end up in our 
emergency rooms. Yet the President and about 10 of his Republican House 
supporters are all that stand in the way of covering 10 million 
American children.
  Our bipartisan legislation will allow children who are already 
eligible for the program to see the doctor of their family's choice so 
they don't have to resort to an emergency room for their primary care.
  Madam Speaker, it is time for our Republican colleagues in this body 
to join us in ensuring that all American children have a healthy start 
in life. The future success of our Nation depends on the health and 
well-being of our children. It is time for the obstructionists to get 
out of the way. Let's get the job done.

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