Kathy Castor: “I rise in support of H.R. 2 as amended and this rule. We will finally pass the children's health care bill today, send…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 2 as amended and this rule. We will finally pass the children's health care bill today, send it to President Obama for his signature, and provide affordable medical care to millions of children across America. I was in the pediatrician's office last Friday with my daughters. There is nothing like the feeling of knowing that your children are healthy after a checkup or that they are on the road to recovery. I speak for millions of parents who can share that sense of relief because they can take their kids to the doctor's office and do so without breaking the family bank. What good news for all Americans that one of the first bills President Obama will sign today will be one that improves access to quality affordable health care and reduces the cost of health care for families. More affordable health care is central to our economic recovery and it is fundamental for families. I am proud to say that the precursor to SCHIP originated in the 1990s as a novel health care initiative in my home State of Florida where the innovators enrolled kids in a health care plan at the start of the school year. They understood that healthy kids succeed in school at higher rates. President Clinton and the Congress were so impressed by what Florida was doing in Florida Kidcare, they took the blueprint and fashioned the national SCHIP partnership.”