The economic uncertainty we are experiencing means that more families will lose their health insurance, putting our children at risk. It is more urgent than ever that the Senate comes together with a strong show of bipartisan support to reauthorize CHIP. This legislation is specifically geared towards lower income, uninsured children, with revenues from this bill more than paying for its cost. It also entitles a legal immigrant who pays taxes and is on the path to citizenship to take part in the program. 

 

Today, the Senate voted on an amendment offered by Senator McConnell, which had the mistaken title of Kids First. Sadly, Senator McConnell’s amendment would not put kids first. The comprehensive CHIP bill we’re debating on the Senate floor would offer health insurance coverage to an additional 4.1 million children, while McConnell’s amendment would cover only 500,000 more uninsured kids. With thousands of families losing their jobs and the health insurance that goes with them, this amendment seems particularly ill-timed.

 

In South Dakota, 18,000 children are uninsured and 9,000 of these kids come from families who meet Medicaid or CHIP income guidelines, yet they remain uninsured. That is far too many children not receiving their vaccinations, missing screenings and other preventive measures. Congress should come together with the Obama Administration and quickly reauthorize this program.