Virginia lawmakers urge Senate not to leave CHIP recipients in the lurch

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to extend funding for the federal government and reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years.

Reps. Scott Taylor (Va.-02), Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. (Va.-05), Bob Goodlatte (Va.-06), Dave Brat (Va.-07), H. Morgan Griffith (Va.-09), and Barbara Comstock (Va.-10) issued the following statement after voting in support of this legislation to keep the federal government open and provide health coverage for Virginia children:

“Senate Democrats have a decision to make. Hold funding for the government hostage or take a vote to reauthorize CHIP and provide health coverage to nearly 9 million low-income children in the United States. We supported this legislation because we need to keep the government open and keep working on the American people’s priorities. Funding for Virginia’s CHIP program, known as FAMIS, is nearly exhausted and roughly 66,000 children and 1,100 pregnant women in the Commonwealth rely on this program to keep them healthy.

Now isn’t the time for games of political brinksmanship. Shutting down the government does not accomplish the goal of funding CHIP or continuing important discussions in Washington. On behalf of the Virginia families we represent in Congress, we ask that the Senate act now to reauthorize CHIP. We hope Senator Schumer and his colleagues will join us in supporting the bill passed by the House tonight.”