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WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the economy continues to decline and more and more children are left without health care, today Congressman Chris Murphy (CT-5) strongly supported H.R. 2, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization bill. This bipartisan bill, which Murphy is an original cosponsor of, renews our commitment to health care access for kids, providing health care coverage for 11 million children by preserving coverage for the 7 million children currently covered and extending coverage to 4 million uninsured children who are currently eligible for, but not enrolled in, SCHIP and Medicaid.

"In the richest country in the world, it defies our national conscience to allow any child to go to sleep in his bed sick, simply because his parents can’t afford to send him to a doctor. These children don’t deserve this fate, and neither do their parents," said Murphy on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today.

Despite overwhelming support from the American people, President Bush twice vetoed bipartisan SCHIP legislation last Congress. With rising unemployment, this SCHIP bill has become more critical than ever as families are having trouble finding and affording health care coverage.

Two-thirds of uninsured children are currently eligible for coverage through SCHIP or Medicaid. In Connecticut, SCHIP is known as HUSKY B, and it provides a vital safety net to thousands of vulnerable Connecticut children. But many more that aren’t enrolled in the program are eligible. H.R. 2 provides resources to states for better outreach and adequate funding to identify and enroll them.

"This is money well spent. Insuring kids is the right thing to do, from a moral and financial standpoint," said Murphy.

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