Speech #1100100095

I hoped I would rise today in strong support of this SCHIP conference agreement that ensures millions of additional children access to health care. While I am pleased that we are increasing our investment in childrens health. Im deeply disappointed that final product denies health care to legal immigrant children. The Senate Republicans failure to include the Housepassed Immigrant Childrens Health Improvement Act in the conference agreement is a tragically missed opportunity to address existing health disparities among vulnerable legal immigrant children and pregnant women. More than 20 States. including California. have recognized that increasing access to care for legal immigrant children and pregnant women is good public health policy and costeffective care. Unfortunately. this bill ignores that fact. This debate is not about immigration. This debate is about health care and our moral imperative to value the life of every child and to ensure that race and income do not determine the health status of any child in our wealthy Nation.