SR0950 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0950 LRB100 14914 MST 29806 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The United States Congress has let the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) expire; this is the first time in two decades that this was allowed to happen; and

WHEREAS, CHIP is a federal health insurance option for working families without access to insurance; now, insurance for more than 100,000 Illinois children remains uncertain; and

WHEREAS, CHIP provides prenatal care to over 370,000 pregnant women across the nation; and

WHEREAS, Last year, Illinois received more than $200 million to fund CHIP; that money will not run out until next year; and

WHEREAS, CHIP has helped decrease the number of uninsured children to a record low of 7%; and

WHEREAS, Children are our State's greatest asset; they must grow up healthy to support our future economy; and

WHEREAS, A five-year renewal plan is already drafted; Congress is expected to call it for a vote in the coming weeks; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the United States Congress to renew the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to provide stability and certainty to the children of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to President Donald Trump, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.