FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Wednesday, January 14, 2009

CONTACT:
Rep. Stark: Brian Cook, (202) 225-3202
Rep. Rangel: Matthew Beck, (202) 225-8933

WASHINGTON — With a 289-139 vote, the House of Representatives today passed landmark, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which currently provides health insurance for more than 7 million children. This legislation, H.R. 2, will protect coverage for those children and expand it to include an additional 4 million children who would otherwise be uninsured. The legislation is paid for through an increase in the federal tobacco tax, as well as a prohibition on kickbacks to physicians from hospitals they own.

“Today the House has voted with broad bipartisan support to ensure health care coverage for 11 million children,” said Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Stark. “This step is critical as workers continue to lose their jobs and health coverage in this devastating recession. Today’s vote is a victory for working families, and an important first step in expanding health coverage to all.”

“This is not a Democratic or Republican issue, but an opportunity to provide health care to 11 million children,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rangel. “I want to congratulate Chairman Waxman for the work that his Committee has done and thank Mr. Dingell for his tireless efforts to get this bill passed and signed into law. I look forward to the day when this Congress can say that all children in America children have access to quality health care so they may grow old and strong and realize their dreams.”

Rep. Stark’s floor comments can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-zFPixAIFs.

The bill summary and other information are available online at http://www.energycommerce.house.gov or can be e-mailed upon request.

A summary and revenue estimate of tax provisions included in the bill can be found at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/090113SCHIP.pdf.