Bill Nelson: “this Children's Health Insurance Program is universally acknowledged as having reduced the number of uninsured children…”

“this Children's Health Insurance Program is universally acknowledged as having reduced the number of uninsured children in America. As the Senator from Maine has just said, we can be very proud we have seen a landmark compromise between Republicans and Democrats. With the talks going on between the House and the Senate, this compromise legislation is going to allow us to continue coverage for millions of low-income children and to expand the coverage to millions more. It is so popular because if we can attack poor health at a child's age, ultimately, not only is it going to benefit the quality of life of that individual, but it is going to be less of a cost to society in the long run, if you can get at their root problems of health while they are young. This is a simple economic fact, preventive health care. In my previous life as the elected State treasurer and insurance commissioner in Florida, I chaired the board of directors of the Healthy Kids Corporation. It was Florida's pioneering effort to insure low-income children well before this Children's Health Insurance Program started at the Federal level. We did it through the schools. We had tremendous success. It works.”