WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congressman Randy Neugebauer made the following statement after the House passed legislation that amends the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP):

“I believe SCHIP is a worthy program that has been successful in reducing the number of children without health insurance. I support extending SCHIP so those families near poverty can get health care for their children and voted in favor a substitute bill that accomplished that goal.  Unfortunately for families and for taxpayers, that substitute did not pass.

“I could not support the final version of H.R. 2 that the House passed today because it included a number of troubling provisions that expanded coverage to families making as much as $80,000 per year and weaken protections against benefits going to illegal immigrants.
“Children’s health care is too important of an issue to play politics with, and Congress should work from both sides of the aisle on a reasonable compromise to reauthorize SCHIP.

“As part of my Empowerment Agenda, I have introduced legislation that promotes private sector health group cooperatives, formed at no cost the taxpayer, that allow small businesses to work with local health care providers to offer comprehensive coverage to those previously uninsured and reduce costs.  This model has worked in Lubbock because of the efforts made by the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce and others.  To improve health care access without increasing government, Congress needs to consider more innovative solutions such as this.”

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Note: The House passed H.R. 2 by a vote of 289-139 and referred the bill to the Senate.