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Congressman Evans Message to House GOP on CHIP

November 3, 2017

Shame on GOP for Playing Political Game with Healthcare for our Children

Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02) released the following statement in response to the vote on the House GOP CHIP-CHC Reauthorization bill, H.R. 3922; an incredibly, divisive partisan bill that allocates money to pay for the reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Community Health Centers (CHCs), and other public health initiatives by cutting funding for both the Prevention and Public Health Fund and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and raising Medicare premiums for seniors.

According to the most recent Kaiser Family Foundation's State Health Facts, Pennsylvania's current DSH allotment is $616.27 million. Cuts to the program will reduce payments by $121.03 million, a 19.6% reduction. Currently, we have more than 176,000 children enrolled in CHIP which will soon run out of money to pay for their care. In the Second District alone, there are 8,360 children who receive healthcare coverage through CHIP.

"Let's stop the games and get something done. We shouldn't have to sacrifice the health and wellness of one population for another; and that is exactly what this divisive GOP bill does. The bill puts healthcare for our children, our families and our seniors at risk by pitting their needs against one another. Healthcare is not a choice, it is a right. The children in our Commonwealth who rely on CHIP for their basic healthcare needs deserve more than this foolish game of politics. We need to come together, roll up our sleeves and do the right thing. I will keep fighting until we get this done for our children," Congressman Evans said.

The Republican controlled House and Senate failed to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) program which expired on September 30. Nationwide, nine million children rely on CHIP for affordable, reliable healthcare.

Congressman Evans voted "No" on the House GOP CHIP-CHC Reauthorization bill, H.R. 3922.

Media Contact: Becca Brukman, 202-225-4001, Becca.Brukman@mail.house.gov