Washington, D.C. - House Ways and Means Committee Member Allyson Schwartz released the following statement today in response to Republican comments disparaging the House proposal to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

“I am appalled that some Congressional Republicans are choosing to take President Bush’s tact of playing political games with SCHIP, rather than work in a bipartisan way to ensure that millions of American children can continue to have access to health insurance. 

“Providing health insurance access to children is not a Democratic issue, or a Republican issue. By using flat-out misleading information to scare and demonize – even before our House plan is unveiled – a select few Republicans are setting the stage for a completely unnecessary and inappropriate political fight.

“SCHIP has always had strong bipartisan support for it’s flexibility, effectiveness, and market-orientated approach to covering children with health insurance. In fact, just this week the nation’s governors released a letter imploring Congress to reauthorize SCHIP. In the Senate, Democrats and Republicans are working in partnership because both parties understand how important it is to continue covering children.

“In the 15 years since 1992, when I spearheaded one of the nation’s first children’s health insurance initiatives in Pennsylvania, I’ve have had countless mothers, fathers, and grandparents share with me the tremendous difference SCHIP has made in the life of a child they loved. These stories remind me every day of how important it is to keep fighting for health insurance for all American children.

“The facts are clear. Because of SCHIP, millions of American children of working and middle class families have affordable, high quality health insurance. I urge my Republican House colleagues to work with us to ensure that American children have access to the health insurance they need and deserve.”

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