Congressman Mike Ross Newsletter - February 6, 2009

Statement

Dear Friend,

As a parent and as a society, we want nothing more than to ensure our children get the best education possible, have access to the best doctors and live in the safest communities. In fact, our chief responsibility as parents is to guarantee our children have a healthy start in life. However, the country's deepening recession and rapidly increasing unemployment are making this important task harder and harder for many of Arkansas's working families.

Too many parents are working jobs with no employment benefits and no health care coverage. And, too many parents are being laid off from work. Unfortunately, too many families are now faced with the tough decision of how sick they should let their children get before seeing the doctor.

If we are to compete in a 21st century global marketplace, our children - America's future workforce - must be healthy and educated, regardless of their families' financial situation. That is why I was proud to help pass in the House the final version of the State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act on Feb. 4. After three years of fighting for this legislation and two vetoes from President Bush, I was pleased to finally see President Obama sign this key bill into law extending vital health care coverage to over 11 million low-income American children - including almost 90,000 Arkansas children.

Covering our uninsured children with quality health care and making it both affordable and accessible should always be a top priority. The State Children's Health Insurance Program, or more commonly known here in Arkansas as ARKids First, is key to ensuring every child has an equal opportunity to achieving the success she or he desires.

This legislation has a broad range of support and has been endorsed by dozens of organizations, representing millions of Americans - ranging from business groups such as the National Federation of Independent Businesses and Business Roundtable and from the American Hospital Association to such groups as AARP and Families USA.

Since its foundation, S-CHIP and ARKids First has reduced the number of uninsured children in Arkansas from 22 percent in 1997 to only 10 percent in 2007. Without this law's passage, ARKids First would have lost all funding as early as March. However, this new law will now ensure health insurance for over 90,000 Arkansas children.

As a state Senator, I worked hard to help pass AR Kids First and I will work just as hard in Congress to ensure its funding continues. There is nothing more critical than providing our nation's children with a healthy start in life. Rest assured that I will continue representing working families in our nation's capital and will work each day to make certain our children have the resources they need to live healthy, productive lives.

Sincerely,

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