February 4, 2009

Rep. Ed Perlmutter today joined a majority in the House of Representatives in support of the final version of bipartisan legislation to provide health care to 11 million children in modest-income families. The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act was approved by a vote of 290-135. Passage by the House today sent the bill to President Obama’s desk for his signature. President Obama will sign the bill later this afternoon.

“After being vetoed twice before from President Bush, the three year fight for this legislation has finally come to an end. I am pleased to announce President Obama will be signing this key bill to provide health care coverage for 11 million children later today,” stated Perlmutter. “This legislation is a change that American children deserve.”

“With rising unemployment, this children’s health bill is more critical than ever,” concluded Perlmutter. “In this recession, more and more American parents are losing employer-sponsored health care for their children. The need for this legislation is growing every day.”

“It is unacceptable for a child anywhere in this nation to go without healthcare,” said Perlmutter. “I was proud to back a plan to help improve the health and chance for success for 11 million children nationwide and offer new health care coverage to 62,900 low-income children throughout Colorado . Furthermore, this legislation reduces the much more costly use of emergency rooms for primary care, and moves us closer to providing every child in our nation with affordable, high-quality health care.”

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