Virginia Congressmen Urge Congressional Leadership to Fund CHIP
Washington, D.C. – Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) joined Congressmen Don Beyer (VA-08), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), and Bobby Scott (VA-03) on a letter to congressional leadership on the immediate need for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding following Governor McAuliffe's letter sent earlier this to families informing them of the lack of funding.
“Virginia children are at risk because Congress continues to fail to fund CHIP,” said Congressman Donald McEachin. “I join my colleagues to call on congressional leaders in the House and the Senate to bring forward a bill that would fund the CHIP program for five years because children need health care. These families deserve better than what is happening because of the Republicans' inaction.”
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, 66,000 children and 1,100 pregnant women rely on the CHIP. This program has historically received bipartisan support.
“CHIP’s authorization expired on September 30th, and now Virginia will run out of funds in January 2018 if CHIP is not reauthorized,” wrote the Members of Congress. “Governor Terry McAuliffe has been forced to notify families this week that Congress has yet to reauthorize CHIP and to prepare other options – which for some children and their families simply may not exist. Linda Nablo, chief deputy director at Virginia’s Department of Medical Assistance Services has said “most families, their children will go without insurance.”
Full letter text is available here and below.
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Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi:
In the Commonwealth of Virginia 66,000 children and 1,100 pregnant women rely on the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In Fiscal Years 2016-2017 in Virginia, CHIP covered 218,190 immunizations, 221,309 well-child checkups, 21,430 glasses and contact lenses, and 326,567 dental visits. CHIP is an indispensable partner to Virginia in securing a healthy future for our children.
As you are aware, CHIP’s authorization expired on September 30th, and now Virginia will run out of funds in January 2018 if CHIP is not reauthorized. Governor Terry McAuliffe has been forced to notify families this week that Congress has yet to reauthorize CHIP and to prepare other options – which for some children and their families simply may not exist. Linda Nablo, chief deputy director at Virginia’s Department of Medical Assistance Services has said “most families, their children will go without insurance.”
Further inaction is immoral and needless. CHIP has always received overwhelming bipartisan support. In fact, Senators Orrin Hatch and Ron Wyden reached a bipartisan deal to reauthorize CHIP for five years in September, and the Senate Finance Committee has already acted on this bill. We implore you to take up this bill, or a similar bipartisan reauthorization immediately.
Sincerely,
Contact: Jamitress Bowden
(202) 225-6365