Calls on Democrats to put kids over politics, support government funding measure and children’s health insurance program

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today called on Democrats to put partisan politics aside and support the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

"We didn't have to be here, and you sure as heck didn't have to shut down the government. Our choice yesterday was vote to fund the government, or not. Vote to fund children's health insurance for 9 million children and, by the way, for states like mine that also includes DACA kids," said Walden in a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives. "So when you voted against that yesterday, you voted not to provide insurance to children and pregnant women in our states. That is wrong. We are here to govern. We are governing as Republicans. We will get this government up and running and we will take care of those children."

Last night, Senate Democrats blocked a government funding measure that provided the longest extension of CHIP in the program's history. Rep. Walden was the only member of the Oregon delegation to vote to provide a six-year extension of CHIP for the 122,700 Oregon children and pregnant women who rely on the program every day.

Background:

In November, the House passed Walden's CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act by a bipartisan vote. H.R. 3922 extends funding for CHIP, Community Health Centers, and other important public health programs.

H.R. 3922 was fully offset through responsible reforms like reducing federal subsidies for seniors earning more than $500,000 each year (or $40,000 each month) by limiting government contributions for their Part B and D premiums, and disenrolling lottery jackpot winners from Medicaid to prioritize the most vulnerable.

Last month, the House acted to provide short-term funding for states to continue their CHIP programs, including over $96 million for children and pregnant women in Oregon.

On Thursday, The House of Representatives passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government. Included in the CR is a provision providing six-years of funding for CHIP, which is the longest and most generous funding extension of the program. In recent days, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has updated its scoring of the provision, projecting a net savings over a six-year window.

Read this original document at: https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-chip-we-will-take-care-those-children