Calling upon the Congress of the United States to immediately reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program.

WHEREAS, Provision of health care to the nation’s children is a solemn and sacred public duty, among the most critical ways our federal government does "promote the general welfare"; and

WHEREAS, In December 1992, Pennsylvania’s Children's Health Insurance Act became law, creating the Children's Health Insurance Program (“CHIP”), a pathbreaking program designed to provide insurance coverage to children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medical Assistance, but who could not afford to purchase private insurance; and

WHEREAS, Since

1997, when it was enacted at the national level with bipartisan support

, CHIP

has provided low cost health insurance for children and pregnant women across the country

; and

WHEREAS, Nationwide, at least 9 million children currently receive health insurance coverage from CHIP, including over 342,000 children in Pennsylvania alone; and

WHEREAS, CHIP provides essential medical services for children, ranging from routine checkups, immunizations, and doctor visits, to prescriptions, dental and vision care, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, laboratory and x-ray services, as well as emergency services; and

WHEREAS, The current, 115th Congress wasted time, squandered attention, and induced needless anxiety and suffering by repeatedly, unsuccessfully attempting to repeal the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, meanwhile ignoring consideration of CHIP reauthorization and thereby forcing its expiration last Saturday, September 30th; and

WHEREAS, Despite the projected ability of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to fund CHIP until February of 2018 without additional federal appropriations, congressional aversion to maintaining access to health care by keeping this successful insurance program funded is a disgraceful abdication of governmental responsibility;now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That this Council does hereby call upon the Congress of the United States to immediately reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

FURTHER RESOLVED,

That copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the United States Congress as evidence of the sentiments of this legislative body.

End