U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) issued the following statement in response to a new report by the New Jersey Policy Perspective entitled, A Step Backward: How Federal Rules Would Deny Health Insurance to New Jersey Children.

“I have stood on the front line in Congress to battle against the Bush administration’s ideologically driven campaign to limit health insurance opportunities for children.  Congress approved measures to strengthen SCHIP and empower states like New Jersey with the resources necessary to provide more children with insurance.  Unfortunately our work has been stymied by the tip of the President’s veto pen.  A majority of the Congress supports strengthening SCHIP, but we do not have the overwhelming support necessary to override a veto.  On behalf of New Jersey’s working-class families that are struggling to afford health insurance, I urge my colleagues to review this powerful report and break with the President’s misguided policies.  While thousands of families struggle to pay their mortgages, put food on the table and fill their cars with gas, basic health coverage for their children should be the last thing they need to worry about affording.”       

The report highlighted New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District as one of the most severely impacted in terms of the number of children who would likely be without health insurance under new rules by the Bush Administration to change eligibility for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

As a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, Pascrell has jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid policy.  Pascrell has worked closely with the Committee to address the insurance crisis by crafting the Children’s Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act, which was approved in the House by a vote of 225-204.  The CHAMP Act would have reauthorized SCHIP for six million children and improved SCHIP to provide states with the tools and incentives necessary to reach an additional five million children who are eligible, but not enrolled.  In New Jersey, over 100,000 children are eligible but not insured under SCHIP.  

Rep. Pascrell is also a cosponsor of the Protecting Children's Health Coverage Act of 2008, which is designed to nullify any effectiveness of the August 17 directive.8, which is designed to nullify any effectiveness of the August 17 directive.

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