William R. Richardson: “House Democrats and some of our Republican friends continue to fight for a much-needed health care system that we need…”

“House Democrats and some of our Republican friends continue to fight for a much-needed health care system that we need for our children. Unfortunately, though, the President and too many Republicans in this body still refuse to support a plan that has already received tremendous bipartisan support in the Senate and from the public. Last month, after meeting with Republican Members and our Democratic leadership, once again we brought forward a bill that would cover 10 million children, 10 million American children who live in this country who deserve to be covered. But Republicans, my colleagues, have avoided taking this vote. We need to make sure that our children are covered. Instead, they proposed a program that would provide health care for 1.7 million fewer children in America. Madam Speaker, 81 percent of Americans support a bipartisan effort to provide health care for 10 million children. I hope our Republican colleagues will join us.”