NEWS RELEASE

Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman

Dingell Joins Colleagues in Approving CHIP Reauthorization Act

Bipartisan Legislation Will Provide Health Care for More Than 10 Million Children

Washington, DC – Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, today joined a majority in the House of Representatives in support of bipartisan legislation, which reflects a House-Senate compromise, to provide health care to more than 10 million low-income children. H.R. 976, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2007 was approved by a vote of 265 to 159.

The CHIP Reauthorization Act:

• Protects existing health care covered for all 6.6 million children currently enrolled in CHIP;
• Extends health care coverage to 3.8 million additional low-income children who are currently uninsured; and
• Provides States the resources and incentives necessary to reach millions of uninsured children who are currently eligible but not enrolled in CHIP

Dingell delivered the following statement on the House floor today in support of the H.R. 976:

"I stand in support of H.R. 976, the “Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2007."

"Ten years ago, a Republican Congress and Democratic President passed a landmark program to reach children who had fallen through the cracks of our healthcare system. These kids weren’t poor enough to qualify for Medicaid, and their parents – most of whom worked – couldn’t afford health insurance on their own."

"Today, this program provides health care to six million children across the Nation. Those six million kids are today in jeopardy because this successful program is set to expire September 30. The legislation before us will continue helping those six million kids, and extend health care to four million more."

"This bill is for parents like Ms. Molina, a mother of two children who worked two part-time jobs but still could not afford health insurance. CHIP got her kids treatment for dental work, two sprained ankles, one broken arm, and a burn."

“It’s for parents like Ms. Mingeldorff, the mother of a child born 25 weeks prematurely who would have had to turn down a job without health insurance because it would have made her ineligible for Medicaid."

"This bill is for every child out there who needs a vaccination, a cavity filled, chemotherapy, insulin, antidepressants and other life-sustaining health care."

"Vote for the children in your district, and for all of America’s children."

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