Office of Congresswoman Jackie Speier
Press Release

Speier lauds action on healthcare for school children

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Jackie Speier (San Francisco /San Mateo County) took the floor of the House of Representatives this morning to urge her colleagues to support the expansion of a popular program that provides health insurance for low income children not eligible for Medicaid.  The measure, HR 2, passed with bipartisan support 289 -139.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act expands the current program – known in California as Healthy Families or Healthy Kids – to cover an additional four million children over the current roster of 7 million.

Similar bills were passed in the last Congress, only to be vetoed by President Bush, who cited the cost.  In today’s remarks, Rep. Speier took issue with that argument:  “What is the cost of not providing medical coverage for uninsured children?” She asked.  “What is the cost of routine medical conditions clogging our emergency rooms?  What is the cost of healthy children sharing classrooms and playgrounds with classmates afflicted with undiagnosed and untreated contagious diseases?”

Locally, more than 10,000 school age kids in San Mateo County take advantage of the program, and in excess of 1.5 million are enrolled statewide.  But Ms. Speier pointed out, “Nearly three quarters of uninsured children qualify for Medicaid or S-CHIP but are not enrolled.  With job losses multiplying at a record pace, these numbers will only increase.”

Speier encouraged her colleagues to support the legislation because “…simply put, we can’t afford not to.” ###