Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Tenth District Congressman Donald M. Payne 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. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act was approved by a vote of 360 - 45.

“No child in New Jersey or anywhere throughout our nation should ever go without medical care,” said Payne. “I was proud to back a plan to give more than 10 million children the care they deserve and move us closer to providing every child in our nation with affordable, high-quality health care.”

“The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was created in 1997 to provide health care coverage for children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private insurance,” Payne pointed out.  “This bill simply gives states the resources and incentives necessary to reach millions of uninsured children who are currently eligible but not enrolled in CHIP.”

“This bipartisan House-Senate bill has a broad range of support,” Payne stated.  “It has been endorsed by more than 270 organizations, representing millions of Americans – ranging from groups such as the American Medical Association and America’s Health Insurance Plans to Families USA, the consumer advocacy group.”

This bipartisan bill reauthorizes the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for five years and preserves the coverage for all 6.6 million children currently covered by CHIP, including preserving the coverage of 129,591 children in New Jersey.

The bill also extends health care coverage to 3.8 million additional low-income children, who are currently uninsured, including extending coverage to 100,000 uninsured children in New Jersey.

“Right now, millions of children in America’s working families can’t see doctors when they should and can’t get medicines when they need them, because their parents just can’t afford costly private insurance,” Payne pointed out.  “This bill will give millions of low-income children the chance for good health.  In the name of the children of New Jersey, I am asking the President to reconsider his misguided veto threat of this vital legislation.”

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