Jay Rockefeller: “Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Baucus, I would like to begin by thanking you for your efforts to address the…”

“Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Baucus, I would like to begin by thanking you for your efforts to address the impending Children's Health Insurance Program, CHIP, shortfalls as part of this end-of-the-year package. As many as 17 States face the prospect of not having enough Federal CHIP dollars to cover the children currently enrolled in their programs. Estimates by the Congressional Research Service and others indicate that these shortfalls will total approximately $920 million next year and could put the health care coverage of as many as 630,000 children in jeopardy. This compromise, struck between you, Congressman Barton, and Congressman Dingell, while not 100 percent of what everybody wanted, takes a significant step toward addressing that problem.”