House Passes CR, Advancing Historic Extension of Funding for Children’s Health Insurance Program

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release:

The House of Representatives today passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to reopen the government, by a vote of 266-150. The Senate passed this same CR earlier in the day (https://energycommerce.house.gov/news/press-release/walden-burgess-senate-passage-funding-measure-historic-chip-extension/) by a vote of 81-18.

Included in the CR is a provision providing six-years of funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which is the longest and most generous funding extension of the program. The CR will fund government operations through February 8, 2018, and also includes suspensions of the medical device, Cadillac, and health insurance taxes.

"After days of the Democrats' needless shutdown, we are relieved that funding for the government will be restored and that CHIP will receive the longest extension in the program's history," said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX). "With this historic extension now headed to President Trump to be signed into law, millions of kids and their families can rest easier knowing that they will be able to continue having access to affordable, quality health insurance."

Background:

Last week, the House of Representatives passed a CR by a vote of 230-197 (https://energycommerce.house.gov/news/press-release/house-passes-cr-historic-extension-funding-childrens-health-insurance-program/). The Senate could not advance this measure, and brought a new CR to the Senate Floor earlier today (https://energycommerce.house.gov/news/press-release/house-passes-cr-historic-extension-funding-childrens-health-insurance-program/) for consideration.

Funding for CHIP and other public health priorities expired on September 30, 2017. The House of Representatives previously passed H.R. 3922, the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act (https://energycommerce.house.gov/news/press-release/house-passes-responsible-commonsense-bill-extending-funding-chip-critical-public-health-programs/), extending funding for CHIP, Community Health Centers and other important public health programs, on November 3, 2017, by a bipartisan vote.

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.

The House acted twice in recent months (December 7, 2017 and December 21, 2017) to provide short-term funding for states to continue their CHIP programs, giving the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) greater flexibility over the use of redistribution funds.