Jackie Speier: “Madam Speaker and Members, it is a remarkable day today because we will vote to insure 11 million American children. But…”

“Madam Speaker and Members, it is a remarkable day today because we will vote to insure 11 million American children. But the real question is, do we want to continue to be a third world country because we are the only industrialized Nation in the world that does not provide health care to its children. Twice our outgoing President has vetoed similar bills. But what is the cost of not providing medical coverage to our children? What is the cost of routine medical conditions clogging our emergency rooms? What is the cost of healthy children sharing classrooms and playgrounds with classmates afflicted with undiagnosed and untreated contagious diseases? Nearly three-quarters of the uninsured children qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP but are not enrolled. And with job losses, multiplying at a record pace, these numbers will only increase. I urge my colleagues to support this measure because simply put, we cannot afford not to.”