Washington, D.C. – Representative Dave Reichert (WA-08) today voted to renew and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

“This is a great victory for children’s health care and Washington State,” said Reichert. “I was proud to support this measure, which renews and expands health care coverage for low-income children without slashing any Medicare benefits for seniors. I have been a strong supporter of SCHIP from the very beginning of this debate, but I wanted to ensure that this important program was funded without needlessly forcing a choice between kids’ health and seniors’ health. The bill that passed the House today is nearly identical to the version that I cosponsored as both an amendment and as an alternate bill.

"I am gratified that after some debate my colleagues from Washington State joined me in passing a bill that shows you don't have to make a terrible choice between health care for low-income children and low-income seniors.”

“I am also pleased that this legislation not only corrects a longstanding funding inequity that unfairly punished Washington State for its early efforts to cover low-income children; but it does so at the higher level that I supported in my legislation. I have been fighting for our state to receive its fair share of federal SCHIP funds since I arrived in Congress. This bill finally achieves that goal. Washington’s allocation of SCHIP dollars will nearly double under this measure.”

Reichert also highlighted the inclusion of his own SCHIP bill (H.R. 593) in this comprehensive children’s health care package. “I introduced legislation in January providing outreach grants to states to enroll more eligible but uninsured children in Medicaid and SCHIP. I am thrilled that House and Senate leaders saw the wisdom of my bill and included its provisions in this important health care package.”

The original House measure (H.R. 3162) would have renewed the SCHIP program by cutting nearly $200 billion from seniors’ Medicare benefits, and did not include a full fix to Washington’s funding inequity.  A staunch advocate for seniors’ health care, Reichert opposed this original bill because it would have forced 133,000 seniors in Washington State to lose their Medicare health plans without rectifying the state’s long-standing funding inequity. After being denied the opportunity to amend that original bill, Reichert sought out leaders of both parties to advocate for the measure that passed the House today.

“On this vote, I stuck to my guns. Thousands of my constituents were subjected to dishonest calls about the previous vote, which made an effort to mislead them about my stance on children’s and seniors’ health care. Tonight, as I did before, I went with my conscience and what I’ve consistently supported from the beginning, and the same fact stood: I do support expanding children’s health care and this bill does just that.”