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Pence Supports Healthcare for Needy Children

Pence Supports Healthcare for Needy Children

Says Reauthorization Must First Focus on Those Who Need it Most

JANUARY 14, 2009

Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN), Chairman of the House Republican Conference, issued the following statement today regarding House consideration of a major expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a bill written by the Democrat leadership and hastily brought to the floor without committee or Republican input:

"While I have been pleased to support SCHIP in the past, and continue to support its original intention to cover needy children who do not qualify for Medicaid, the bill being considered today hardly resembles the bipartisan compromise reached in 1997.

"My Republican colleagues and I are eager to work with Democrats - as we did more than ten years ago - to ensure that needy children receive health care coverage. As the program expands, health care for needy children is jeopardized. Republicans will work tirelessly to see that every currently eligible child is covered first, and that taxes are not raised on the poorest among us."

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For Additional Information

Contact Matt Lloyd or Mary Vought at
(202) 226-9000 or matt.lloyd@mail.house.gov