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Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009

Floor Speech

Date: Jan. 15, 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Health and Health Care


CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2009 -- (Extensions of Remarks - January 15, 2009)

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my colleagues on the passage of H.R. 2 yesterday afternoon.

H.R. 2 is a critical piece of legislation that renews and improves the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that ensures health care coverage for over 11 million American children--including the addition of 4 million, previously uninsured.

This legislation also improves SCHIP benefits by ensuring coverage for dental and mental health services.

H.R. 2 will reauthorize SCHIP through FY 2013 and will be fully paid for through an increase in the tobacco tax.

Raising the tobacco tax discourages children from smoking. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the tobacco tax increase will prevent nearly 2 million children from starting to smoke.

I am hopeful that the Senate will also pass H.R. 2 and I look forward to this important legislation becoming law under the new administration of President Obama.


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