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Statement

Moms Group Demands Congress Extend CHIP Funding Immediately

October 3, 2017

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

On Saturday, funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) expired. This critically important program has reduced the uninsured rate for kids in the U.S. to less than 5% over the past two decades. Historically, support for CHIP has been bipartisan, helping to ensure we always give our kids a winning hand of lifelong health. It provides coverage to nearly 9 million kids and 370,000 pregnant women nationwide. Children enrolled in CHIP have access to routine check-ups, immunizations, prescriptions, dental and vision care, and emergency services among others.
 
Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, CEO and Executive Director of MomsRising, issued the following statement in response:
 
“For decades, CHIP has provided an economic lifeline to mothers and families across the country who cannot afford to worry about routine and emergency health care costs for their children. It has brought peace of mind for so many working parents who can rest easy knowing that the potential for job loss wouldn’t mean losing access to health services for their families in times of need. In short, because of CHIP, taking care of a sick child never has to mean risking bankruptcy.  CHIP is a successful program that has boosted both families and the economy.
 
“Now, the Republican-led Congress has let the CHIP expiration float by without action. That is unacceptable. No parent should have to lose sleep over their child’s health, yet every day that goes by without Congressional action, politicians are literally putting kids’ lives at risk. In addition, states rely on stable CHIP funding for budget planning and need assurance that funds will be available for the long-term.  
 
“Families, nor states, can afford to wait - that’s why MomsRising and its more than one million members urge Congress to act immediately to pass a fully-funded extension of CHIP.”
 
A petition from MomsRising is calling on Congress to put in place a five-year extension of CHIP, which they say would give stability and reliability to millions of Americans.
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.