PRINTER'S NO. 2572
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
560
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY STURLA, CONKLIN, DEAN, BIZZARRO, SIMS, McCARTER,
KINSEY, FRANKEL, PASHINSKI, THOMAS, DRISCOLL, SCHLOSSBERG,
LONGIETTI, RABB, YOUNGBLOOD, MURT, SAMUELSON, D. MILLER,
DAVIS, DAVIDSON, V. BROWN, ROZZI, O'BRIEN, CALTAGIRONE,
J. HARRIS, DeLUCA, READSHAW, ROEBUCK, GOODMAN, HILL-EVANS,
D. COSTA, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, CHARLTON, FREEMAN, IRVIN,
WARREN, MATZIE, DeLISSIO, KORTZ, KRUEGER-BRANEKY, SCHWEYER,
COMITTA, DEASY, CEPHAS, RAVENSTAHL AND DALEY,
OCTOBER 16, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE, OCTOBER 16, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Urging the President of the United States and Congress to
reauthorize funding for the Children's Health Insurance
Program.
WHEREAS, The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was
established in 1997, based on Pennsylvania's model, to deliver
Federal matching funds to states to provide low-cost health
insurance to children up to 19 years of age who are uninsured
and not eligible for medical assistance; and
WHEREAS, Today, 9 million children in the United States are
enrolled in CHIP, 176,667 of whom reside in Pennsylvania as of
September 2017; and
WHEREAS, CHIP protects and promotes the health and welfare of
low-income children, ensuring health care coverage for an array
of services, including routine checkups, emergency visits,
immunizations, laboratory and x-ray services, prescriptions and
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dental and vision care, among others; and
WHEREAS, CHIP helps prevent illness and treat childhood
diseases, protecting the lives of ailing children and the health
of the general public as well; and
WHEREAS, For tens of thousands of struggling families in
Pennsylvania, CHIP is a low-cost option to make sure their
children have access to quality health care services; and
WHEREAS, Federal funding for CHIP was last reauthorized in
2015 and expired on September 30, 2017; and
WHEREAS, Without Congressional action, Federal funding
allocated to Pennsylvania for CHIP participants is projected to
be exhausted by February 2018, leaving millions of children
without coverage and limiting their access to care, while
simultaneously burdening families financially and placing the
public's health at risk; therefore be it
RESOLVED, The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania urge the President of the United States and
Congress to reauthorize funding for the Children's Health
Insurance Program to ensure Federal funding for Pennsylvania's
Children's Health Insurance Program; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States, the Majority Leader of the
United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of
Representatives and each member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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