Press Releases

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) managed today’s floor debate in the U.S. House of Representatives on the final version of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act, which will provide health care to 11 million American children in modest-income families.  The bill, which passed the House by a vote of 290 to 135, will be signed into law by President Obama later this afternoon. 

Video of Polis’ floor speech and debate is available here:

• SCHIP Floor Speech
• SCHIP-Coverage
• SCHIP-Diabetes
• SCHIP-Dental Care 
• SCHIP-Early Childhood Development

The text of Polis’ original floor speech follows:

Statement of U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO)
The State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009

M_. Speaker,

Although I have only served in this House for a short time, like many of you, I have already received hundreds of letters from constituents who have serious concerns about health care costs and coverage.

Too common is the story of hard-working, but low-income moms and dads, forced to choose between buying groceries and visiting the family doctor.  I’ve heard from those who have either lost their health care coverage or fear that they will lose it because they simply cannot afford it. 

I’ve heard from parents who are denied necessary health care by their insurers, and as a result their children are suffering.  I’ve heard from caregivers who have been laid off losing not only their health coverage, but that of their children’s as well.  This is a grave problem for our country that we can no longer ignore.

No longer can we lay the blame at the front door of the White House.  We must ensure that this legislation passes the House and Senate and reaches the President’s desk as soon as possible.  With our approval, President Obama will sign this bill into law TODAY and change the lives of millions of children and families.  Delay is not an option.

A large majority of Americans of all political persuasions support this important bill.  It is a fiscally responsible way to not only extend the number of children in our nation who will receive health care, but improve the quality of that care.  This bill relieves the burden of taxpayers who currently subsidize millions of costly and inefficient uninsured emergency room visits. 

This bill is just common sense---given the nations’ skyrocketing health care costs coupled with our current economic challenges.  It is an investment where the return is a generation of healthy, productive Americans.

This legislation would provide health coverage for more than 11 million children nationwide.  Tomorrow morning, 170,000 children in my home state of Colorado will wake up without health insurance. That is 170,000 too many. 

This bill will change that terrible statistic by giving states the vital tools needed to reach out to the uninsured children who are eligible for SCHIP and Medicaid, but not yet enrolled.  This is critical to Colorado, as it is critical to all of our states.

M_. Speaker, the epidemic of the uninsured is not just a consequence of our struggling economy; it is a component of it.  Under a new Administration, with the political will of this new Congress, we have the power to set this particular wrong, right.  A healthy economy is supported by healthy people.

Providing health insurance for millions of uninsured American children is an important beginning to keeping our people and our economy healthy, but it is just a beginning.

Protecting the health of our nation’s young children is of paramount importance to me—and to the strength and security of our nation.  A recent military study reveals that one-third of American teenagers are incapable of passing a basic physical fitness test.  This legislation will give every child a chance at a “healthy start.”

With rising unemployment, a battered economy, and more layoffs coming every day, the plight of the uninsured will only get worse. Next month, M_. Speaker, SCHIP will expire. Our failure today will add millions of children to the rolls of the uninsured. To me, to my constituents, and hopefully to you, as well, this is unacceptable. 

Today, we have an opportunity to protect millions of children across this nation who does not have a voice, and to safeguard their future.  I urge you to vote for this legislation.