BROWN TAKES TO SENATE FLOOR TO DEMAND FUNDING EXTENSION FOR CHIP
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BROWN TAKES TO SENATE FLOOR TO DEMAND FUNDING EXTENSION FOR CHIP
Senator has Led Efforts to Extend Funding for Program that Insures More Than 209,000 Ohio Children
"This body passed massive, permanent tax cuts for corporations, but can't give families more certainty than three months" It's past time for folks in
*The Affordable Care Act reauthorized CHIP through 2019, but
*Brown has led
*A clean funding extension of CHIP - like what is included in Brown's bill - is supported by
Brown highlighted the story of
CHIP, which was created in 1997, is a joint state-federal health insurance program for low to moderate income children and pregnant women who are not Medicaid eligible. Within three years of its initial passage, all 50 states opted into the program, providing millions with access to health insurance. Nationwide, CHIP provides access to comprehensive, affordable coverage to more than nine million children and Healthy Start helps cover more than 209,000 Ohioans.
Brown led efforts in the
In September, Brown joined families in
Brown was the lead sponsor of the Protecting and Retaining Our Children's Health Insurance Program (PRO-CHIP) Act of 2015 in the
Text of Brown's remarks as prepared for delivery can be found below:
Yesterday, a bunch of members of
That's right, because
A new report from the
Another one million could lose insurance by the end of February.
Parents are panicked and confused.
Think about those families, getting that letter in the mail.
It should be a joyful time of year for families, spending time with family and enjoying the holidays.
Imagine checking your mailbox, expecting Christmas cards, and finding that letter instead.
Imagine having to tell your daughter, I'm sorry, Santa probably isn't bringing much this year, and we won't have many presents under the tree.
Imagine trying to not let your child see the worry in your eyes, because you just got this letter in the mail, and now you're wondering how you'll afford to take her to the doctor when she gets sick.
These are often families with two working parents, who aren't lucky enough to work for companies that offer health insurance coverage for their entire family.
Or they're families with children who have special needs, like
I met Crystal and Noble this spring, when they came all the way from
Noble was born with a rare genetic disorder. He needs three therapy sessions a week, and daily hormone injections, to treat his condition. His medications run
I talked to Crystal at the end of last month. She and her family are scared to death about what will happen to them if
She said, CHIP is "the difference between living a middle class lifestyle, or being part of the poverty line."
It's a disgrace.
This is a program that was created in a bipartisan way, that has always been bipartisan, and that still has bipartisan support today.
We passed a bipartisan CHIP extension out of the
It's ready to go. And if Republican leaders put it on the floor today, it would pass. There is no excuse for this delay that is hurting families.
Right now, there's talk the House is going to pass a three-month CHIP extension.
This is unacceptable.
Three months provides no certainty for families. And it provides no certainty for states.
States like
They have to give families a head's up, so these parents have time to do what they can - whether it's try to find an alternative source of coverage, or try to fit in one more doctor's appointment before their coverage lapses.
Providing a three-month extension doesn't solve the problem, it just makes the situation more complicated for families and kids across the country.
This body passed massive, permanent tax cuts for corporations, but can't give families more certainty than three months?
I want my colleagues here in
There are more than 209,000
This is about whose side you're on. Do we work for the corporations that send our jobs overseas, or for the children who may wake up on Christmas morning without health insurance?
It's past time for folks in
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