Friday, January 16, 2009
Congress Moves Closer to SCHIP Reauthorization this Week
Wednesday 14 members of Ohio’s congressional delegation voted for the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009.
In a strong bipartisan showing, Representatives Austria, Boccieri, Driehaus, Fudge, Kaptur, Kilroy, Kucinich, LaTourette, Ryan, Space, Sutton, Tiberi, Turner, and Wilson supported a four-and-a-half year reauthorization of the program which will cover an additional four million children nationally. This brings the total number of children covered by SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program) or Medicaid programs to over ten million.
Thursday a similar proposal passed out of the Senate Finance Committee for consideration on the Senate floor.
With Ohio and the nation facing the ramifications of the current recession, especially unemployment and the resulting increase in the need for safety net programs, SCHIP will be a lifeline to families. The loss of health care is one of the most frightening aspects of job loss for many families. Passage of this legislation will help ease the pressure on Ohio’s SCHIP-eligible families.
It is important that Congress and the Obama administration move quickly to pass this long overdue legislation. As the impact of the economic downturn further deepens, this successful program will take on even greater importance to struggling families.
In a strong bipartisan showing, Representatives Austria, Boccieri, Driehaus, Fudge, Kaptur, Kilroy, Kucinich, LaTourette, Ryan, Space, Sutton, Tiberi, Turner, and Wilson supported a four-and-a-half year reauthorization of the program which will cover an additional four million children nationally. This brings the total number of children covered by SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program) or Medicaid programs to over ten million.
Thursday a similar proposal passed out of the Senate Finance Committee for consideration on the Senate floor.
With Ohio and the nation facing the ramifications of the current recession, especially unemployment and the resulting increase in the need for safety net programs, SCHIP will be a lifeline to families. The loss of health care is one of the most frightening aspects of job loss for many families. Passage of this legislation will help ease the pressure on Ohio’s SCHIP-eligible families.
It is important that Congress and the Obama administration move quickly to pass this long overdue legislation. As the impact of the economic downturn further deepens, this successful program will take on even greater importance to struggling families.
