Stephanie Tubbs Jones: “I participated one Saturday afternoon in a program at University Hospital in my Congressional district called ``healthy…”

“I participated one Saturday afternoon in a program at University Hospital in my Congressional district called ``healthy children.'' The purpose of the program was to help these children who were overweight understand the importance of choosing the right foods, the right diet and exercise. There are so many unhealthy children in these United States. There are so many children who are suffering from type II diabetes, who are suffering from all types of conditions that could be dealt with given a strong health care opportunity, given an opportunity for their parents to have the appropriate guidance. We cannot afford to let our children down, because when we have children who are unhealthy, who may be overweight, who are suffering from diabetes, it also leads to children who have depression, children who don't want to be here because somebody is kidding them or their self-esteem is low. The State Children's Health Insurance Program, SCHIP, will give our children the opportunity to have a chance, have a chance to be successful in a world where you would think it would be no big deal; that it would be no big deal to say to the American public, yes, we are going to give you health care, children. We owe it to them. We are morally obligated as the grownups in this country.”