Jay Rockefeller: “this is a monumental day for all Americans but especially children and their families. I am proud of the work we have…”

“this is a monumental day for all Americans but especially children and their families. I am proud of the work we have accomplished over the past few days in the Senate on the Children's Health Insurance Program--or CHIP--Reauthorization Act of 2007. Renewing this program for another 10 years is a fitting way to mark this Sunday, August 5th's 10-year anniversary of the day the first CHIP bill was signed into law. As you know, this legislation was the result of countless hours of negotiations between Senators Baucus, Grassley, and Hatch and I. CHIP legislation has a history of bipartisanship, I am quite proud of it. Many Members of this Chamber had hoped for something different in this bill. There were some on the other side of the aisle who wanted to place further restrictions on those covered by this bill and decrease the funding to $15 million. I know that there were others on this side of the aisle who wanted to add benefits and increase the funding to $50 billion. Individually, we were each tempted by some of the suggested changes in the more than 86 amendments to this bill. But the fundamental goal has been sustained throughout our debates and votes--expanding access to health care for millions of children, including those eligible children who are not yet enrolled. Each of us knows the statistics in our own State. I am proud that nearly 39,000 West Virginians were enrolled in the program last year.”