Frank Pallone: “in the coming days, I am hopeful that a children's health care initiative will emerge as a result of the budget…”

“in the coming days, I am hopeful that a children's health care initiative will emerge as a result of the budget reconciliation process. It is my understanding that approximately $16 billion over 5 years has been set aside in the budget to provide money to help families obtain health coverage for their children. Since last year, Mr. Speaker, when the Democrats developed the Families First agenda, children's health care has been a high priority. Although Republicans have failed to realize that 10 million uninsured children in this country is a problem that needs to be addressed, I have to assure my colleagues that Democrats have not let the needs of these children fall on deaf ears. As one of the three cochairs of the Democratic Health Care Task Force, we have held hearings and meetings with child advocacy groups and various health care providers who have all been very clear in expressing the need for Federal involvement in this issue. Two months ago, I and a number of my colleagues on the Democratic side sent a letter urging that the Republican leaders move legislation forward by Mother's Day that would benefit the uninsured children. Since then, the GOP has really done nothing about the issue while each day more children enter the ranks of the uninsured. Just as an example, Mr. Speaker, in my home State of New Jersey, over 200,000 children are currently without health insurance, according to a very good estimate.”