WASHINGTON, DC – Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) issued the following statement after the Senate’s vote to advance the Continuing Resolution (CR).

“This is welcome news for millions of families across the country. Senate Democrats have finally dropped their needless obstruction, allowing the Senate to fund critical government operations and extend vital funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)," said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX). “Their vote will clear the way for the House to consider this new legislation, and we look forward to quickly advancing this important bill. Certainty will soon be delivered to the 9 million kids who rely on CHIP each and every day.”

Background:

Last week, the House of Representatives passed a CR by a vote of 230-197. Included in the CR was a provision providing six-years of funding for CHIP, which is the longest and most generous funding extension of the program. The Senate could not advance this measure, and brought a new CR to the Senate Floor for consideration and would fund government operations through February 8, 2018. The Senate passed CR includes the identical six-year funding extension of CHIP passed by the House last week, as well as suspensions of the medical device, Cadillac, and health insurance taxes.

Funding for CHIP and other public health priorities expired on September 30, 2017. The House of Representatives previously passed H.R. 3922, the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act, extending funding for CHIP, Community Health Centers and other important public health programs, on November 3, 2017, by a bipartisan vote.

H.R. 3922 was fully offset through responsible reforms like reducing federal subsidies for seniors earning more than $500,000 each year (or $40,000 each month) by limiting government contributions for their Part B and D premiums, and disenrolling lottery jackpot winners from Medicaid to prioritize the most vulnerable.

The House acted twice in recent months (December 7, 2017 and December 21, 2017) to provide short-term funding for states to continue their CHIP programs, giving the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) greater flexibility over the use of redistribution funds.

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