Frank Lautenberg: “I also extend my commendations and thanks to Senators Baucus and Grassley for producing this bill. This bill is a long…”

“I also extend my commendations and thanks to Senators Baucus and Grassley for producing this bill. This bill is a long step forward. Although I think it is quite apparent that we need even more than this generous attempt to meet our needs, the fact is, it is a very good bill. But it is surprising to me that we even have to debate this bill. As we stand here, there are 9 million kids in the United States without health insurance; 250,000 of them live in my State of New Jersey. Every day that we wait to reauthorize and expand the Children's Health Insurance Program we risk more children's illnesses and even permit them to die because they have no health care. In 2010 there are going to be more than 83 million children, from newborns to 19-year-olds, growing up in America. We have an obligation to make sure those boys and girls have health insurance so they can see their doctor, get a prescription, or visit the hospital if they need to. That is exactly what the CHIP, Children's Health Insurance Program, helps them do. It will ensure that kids have insurance to get regular checkups, to pay for emergencies, or to fight illnesses such as diabetes and other illnesses that afflict children terribly in their lives.”