SPONSOR:

Rep. Schooley & Rep. Maier & Sen. Blevins & Sen. Sorenson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

144th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 2

URGING DELAWARE'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO REAUTHORIZE THE STATE CHILDREN HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (SCHIP) TO ASSURE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR DELAWARE'S SCHIP PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Delaware regards the health of our children to be of paramount importance to families in our State; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Delaware regards poor child health as a threat to the education achievement, social and psychological well being of the children of our State; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Delaware considers protecting the health of our children to be essential to the well-being of our youngest citizens and the quality of life in our State; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature considers Delaware’s SCHIP Program, which has enrolled nearly 27,000 uninsured children since its inception in 2000, to be an integral part of the arrangements for health benefits for the children of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes the value of Delaware’s SCHIP Program, called the Delaware Healthy Children Program, in preserving child wellness, preventing and treating childhood disease, improving health outcomes, and reducing overall health costs; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Delaware considers the federal funding available for Delaware’s SCHIP Program to be indispensable to providing health benefits for children of modest means; and

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Legislature urges the members of Delaware’s delegation to the United States Congress to ensure that the Congress timely reauthorizes the State Children Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to assure federal funding for the Delaware State SCHIP Program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislature urges the Governor to use her best efforts to work with Delaware’s Congressional delegation to ensure that SCHIP is reauthorized in a timely manner; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislature proclaims that all components of State government should work together with educators, health care providers, social workers and parents to ensure that all available public and private assistance for providing health benefits to uninsured children in this State be used to the maximum extent possible.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution urges Delaware’s Congressional delegation to reauthorize the State Children Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to assure federal funding for Delaware’s SCHIP Program. The resolution also urges all State agencies to work to ensure that all eligible Delaware children are enrolled in the Delaware SCHIP Program.