Contact:
Tara Trujillo
720-333-3425
Heather Fox
303-725-6595
WASHINGTON, DC. - Today U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, D-Eldorado Springs, voted for the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act. The bill extends the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) through March 31, 2009 and provides additional funding to ensure that no children currently enrolled will lose their coverage. Congressional members on both sides of the aisle have been fighting all year to provide health care coverage for 10 million children through SCHIP. President Bush has twice vetoed a bill that would provide these 10 million children health care coverage, which includes approximately 60,000 kids in Colorado. The House passed the bill today by a vote of 411 to 3.
Rep. Udall released the following statement:
“I consider the protection of the health of our nation’s children to be one of the most important domestic issues of this or any other year. I am disappointed that today, due to the President’s two vetoes, the House is only able to consider a bill that provides an extension of the current SCHIP program through March 31, 2009 -- which protects coverage for currently enrolled children but does not make needed headway in reducing the number of uninsured kids. The priority we place on ensuring that children in this country have access to the medical care they need is a reflection of the values of this Congress, this President and this nation.”
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