AARP Commends Chairman Dingell, Sen. Clinton for Their Commitment to Insuring AmericaÕs Children

Source: AARP Press Center | March 14, 2007

AARP today commended Representative John Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) for their leadership in providing health insurance to America’s children.

“AARP thanks Chairman Dingell and Senator Clinton for working to ensure America’s children have access to affordable health care,” said David Sloane, AARP’s Director of Government Relations and Advocacy. “We are particularly encouraged by their proposals to ensure sufficient federal aid for states and territories that expand children’s coverage; encourage states to streamline the application process and keep kids enrolled and let children above SCHIP eligibility income levels buy into the program at affordable rates.

“SCHIP is important to the growing number of AARP members who are grandparents raising grandchildren who rely on the program for affordable health care, and to all Americans because making sure children get health care is an essential building block in reforming our nation’s health care system. For the sake of millions of children who rely on SCHIP, we hope the efforts of Chairman Dingell and Senator Clinton will lead to legislation to reauthorize and strengthen SCHIP this year.”