Congressman explains his vote on children's insurance

By Staff
Rep. Robert Aderholt, Guest Columnist
You're probably aware that Congress and the President are currently locked in a partisan debate regarding the future of the State Children's Health Insurance Program or SCHIP. This has been one of the uglier fights I've seen since I first joined Congress; in large measure because Congress and the President have both lost sight of what is important in this debate: the future of health insurance for needy children.
On Oct. 3, President Bush vetoed H.R. 976, a bill passed by Congress that reauthorizes and significantly expands the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). This bill was originally passed in the House by a vote of 265 – 159 on Sept. 25.
While some groups mean well in their support of this legislation, other liberal interest groups such as Moveon.org, the Service Employees International Union, and Americans United for Change would have you believe that I'm standing in the way of getting healthcare for children. What they fail to tell you is that in 1997 I voted to create this very program. I felt it was important to provide children with health care coverage they might otherwise not receive. It was the right thing to do then and it's the right thing to do now. But, there are real problems with the bill the President vetoed.
Among other things, H.R. 976 would:
What was once a simple, good government program providing poor children with needed health care has become a partisan boondoggle of Congressional proportions.
That's why I've sponsored a resolution to bring the SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (H.R. 3584) to the floor for an up or down vote. This bill extends and increases funding for the existing SCHIP. I believe that if it saw the light of day it would pass easily and be signed into law by the President.
Partisanship has played entirely too large a role in this issue. It's time that everyone remembers what's important in this debate: providing health insurance to needy children. That's what a Republican Congress and a Democrat President did in 1997. There's no reason a Democrat Congress and Republican President can't do the same in 2007.
H.R. 3584 will extend the program for 18 months, getting it into the next Presidential Administration in 2008 and actually increases funding to the level that the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says will cover all kids currently enrolled and allow all kids eligible under the current program to be covered. In Fiscal Year 2008 it provides for $6.5 billion in funding and $3.6 billion for the first 6 months of Fiscal Year 2009. These figures represent a $1.5 billion and $1.1 billion increase respectively. These funds are in addition to the states' roll-over amounts. By guaranteeing current funding levels, and even increasing funding, the program remains secure while the partisan debate continues in Washington.
I've been asked to place children above partisanship. Introducing legislation that brings H.R. 3584 directly to the floor of the House of Representatives clearly does just that. I would encourage all of my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, to join my efforts and support our nation's most vulnerable children. If we are honest with ourselves and put partisanship aside, this is something everyone should be able to support.