WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) voted in support of H.R. 3922 – the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act. This legislation funds the state Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), community health centers, and averts a Medicaid Disproportionate Share (DSH) Hospital reduction of $5 billion. Additionally, this legislation maintained a 23% funding increase in the Federal CHIP Matching Rate for FY ‘2018. Congresswoman Stefanik spoke on the House floor to urge passage of this legislation – click here for video. A transcript of her remarks is below.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act.
This critical healthcare legislation provides a 5-year extension to the CHIP program that so many children and low income families rely on.
In my district alone, over 21,000 children use CHIP for access to low cost health care services.
I’m also proud that this legislation includes a needed two-year extension of funding for Community Health Centers.
This is an issue I’ve worked hard on, as over 95,000 people in my district receive critical healthcare and preventative services from these centers.
There is still much work to do to improve our healthcare system for families in the North Country.
In Congress, I’ll keep fighting to protect the programs our district depends on, and I’ll continue working toward the affordable, high-quality healthcare system that my district deserves.
Thank you Mr. Speaker, and I yield back.
Background:
As the author of the bipartisan Community Health Investment, Modernization and Excellence (CHIME) Act of 2017, Congresswoman Stefanik has been leading the charge to reauthorize funding for Community Health Centers. Her work was instrumental to ensuring this funding was extended.
H.R. 3922 funds the state Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), community health centers, and other important public health priorities which are fully paid for. It includes:
- Five year extension of CHIP
- Two year extension of community health centers
- Averts a Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital reduction of $5 billion, which is scheduled to take place under current law
- $1 billion for Medicaid programs in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands so patients can receive access to care
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