Rep. Doris Matsui Votes to Support Expanded Children's Health Care
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
CONTACT: Alexis Marks
(202) 225-7163
Rep. Doris Matsui Votes to Support Expanded Children's Health Care
H.R. 2 is Estimated to Provide 694,000 Uninsured Children in CA with Health Care Coverage
Today, Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-05) joined a majority in the House of Representatives in support of the final version of bipartisan legislation to provide health care to 11 million children. H.R. 2, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act was approved by a vote of 290-135. Passage by the House today sent the bill to President Obama's desk for his signature. President Obama will sign the bill later this afternoon.
andquot;Our responsibility to our nation's children is clear. We are charged with ensuring that every child in America has affordable health care. Thankfully, Democrats in Congress take this responsibility seriously, and so does President Obama. Today, after three years of fighting for this bill, Congress has demonstrated that the country is moving in a new direction,andquot; stated Rep. Matsui.
This bipartisan bill reauthorizes the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) through FY 2013. It preserves the coverage for all 7.1 million children currently covered by SCHIP, which includes 1.54 million children currently enrolled in California. In addition to this significant achievement, H.R. 2 also provides affordable health coverage for 4.1 million uninsured children who are currently eligible for, but not enrolled in, SCHIP and Medicaid. As a result, approximately 694,000 children in California will receive health care coverage that they did not have previously.
The bill adds nothing to the federal deficit because it pays for the additional health coverage by raising the federal tax on tobacco products by 62 cents. Increasing this tax also promotes children's health by discouraging children from smoking. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a 62-cent increase in the tobacco tax means that nearly 1.9 million fewer children will take up smoking over the course of their lives, representing a significant public health victory in its own right.
andquot;The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act is a victory for millions of children and their families. Because of it, 694,000 children currently without health care in California will be able to see doctors and receive the treatment they need. This is a victory for us as a nation. When more of our children grow up healthy, our country is strengthened and the American dream is preserved,andquot; concluded Rep. Matsui.
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