Patty Murray: “I also would like to address a bill introduced today called the Universal Children's Health Coverage Act, and I commend…”

“I also would like to address a bill introduced today called the Universal Children's Health Coverage Act, and I commend the Democratic leader for his commitment to this critical issue. I also thank Senators Kennedy, Kerry, and Dodd for their work on behalf of millions of children who lack access to basic health care coverage. As one of the newest members of the Labor and Human Resources Committee, I have been proud to work with them on the Children's Health Coverage Act, and I look forward to working with all of my colleagues, both Democrat and Republican, in the upcoming months on this very important legislation. Since first being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992, I have heard time and time again the phrase, ``children are our most valuable resource.'' Sometimes, however, the actions of this body are not always as loud as the words we hear on the floor. If we all truly believe as strongly as I do that children are our most precious and valuable resource, why have we allowed so many children to go without basic health care coverage and why have we not worked harder to help families provide necessary health coverage for their children? We now have the opportunity to go beyond our rhetoric and work toward solutions. The United States has one of the highest rates of uninsured children in the industrial world. Currently, one out of seven children lack health insurance in this country.…”