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Congressman John D. Dingell |
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Serving Michigan's 15th Congressional District |
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Congressman John D. Dingell |
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Serving Michigan's 15th Congressional District |
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| NEWS RELEASE | Contact: | Adam Benson or Kimberlee Trzeciak |
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Friday, August 24, 2007 |
202/225-4071 (office) | |
| 202/271-8587 (cell) |
Dingell Tells Medical Professionals Bush Veto Could Keep Kids from Getting Health Care |
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Dearborn, MI - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) told a group of medical professionals from Dearborn’s Oakwood Healthcare Center that thousands of children would be denied health care if President Bush vetoes new funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). “Despite the program’s success, and the fact that nine million of our children are currently uninsured, the Bush Administration is actively working to remove State flexibility to provide health coverage for our kids,” Dingell said. “It’s a shame that, instead of working with Congress to protect CHIP, the White House is issuing veto threats, taking actions to make it more difficult to protect children in working families, and putting kids at risk of losing access to health insurance.”
Before an audience of 100 doctors, nurses and administrators, the Congressman spoke at length about two critical legislative items: The Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act (CHAMP) and the Medicare for All Act.
The CHAMP Act, which passed through the House of Representatives in July, commits $50 billion to reauthorize and improve CHIP. The bill provides health care to more than 11 million children – six million who are currently covered by CHIP and five million who are currently eligible, but not enrolled in the program. While the Medicare for All Act would make Medicare available to everyone.
“Those folks on the front lines know the burdens the uninsured place on hospitals and the entire health care system,” Dingell said. “The current system we have is unsustainable – both because of the cost and the millions of people who fall through the cracks. The sad thing is – doctors and hospitals are caught in the middle of the forces driving this debate. We need to come up with a system that works for the people trying to save lives and makes their work easier, not harder.
“If comprehensive health care coverage is available to all Americans, better preventative services and earlier treatments will be received, lowering health care costs,” Dingell said about the bill. “All Americans will reap the economic benefits of a healthier nation, from a stronger economy to lower health insurance expenses.”
The Congressman also praised the hospital and its employees for their work serving Dearborn and surrounding communities, saying Oakwood “has consistently provided access to quality and affordable health care. We are fortunate to have such a wonderful provider in Southeastern Michigan.”
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