[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15210]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   AUTHORIZATION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH 
             INSURANCE PROGRAM WILL EXPIRE ON SEPTEMBER 30

  (Mr. GOMEZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GOMEZ. Mr. Speaker, I can't believe Congress has closed 
legislative business for the week without addressing a critical 
deadline that will impact the health of our country. On September 30, 
authorization for the Community Health Centers and the Children's 
Health Insurance Program--CHIP--will expire.
  Well, it is September 28, and we just closed legislative business. 
That means funding for this critical program will lapse and the health 
of millions of Americans will be in jeopardy.
  Our Nation's Community Health Centers have served low-income, rural, 
and underserved communities for more than 50 years. In that time, they 
have increased the number of patients they serve and the services they 
offer so that they are now the primary healthcare option for millions 
of people.
  CHIP is another program that Congress will allow to lapse.
  No matter how big the differences between Republicans and Democrats, 
when it comes to healthcare, we have always come together to ensure our 
Nation's children do not go without the care they need, yet here we are 
leaving D.C. and abandoning the 9 million children on CHIP and the 
millions more at the Community Health Centers.
  I ask that we come back into session and that we extend these 
critical programs.

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