FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2007
 
CONTACT:
Caroline Burns
202-225-3631
 
SPEAKER COMMITS TO FIX PEACHCARE
 
Washington, D.C. In a roundtable with reporters today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that short-term funding to shore up the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which administers Georgia's PeachCare for Kids health care program, would be fixed in next month's supplemental appropriations bill.  
 
In Georgia, PeachCare currently serves approximately 273,000 children from low- and middle income families and has been facing a deficit of $131 million. Without federal support, the program will be forced to close altogether. The situation recently reached crisis levels, in the face of the funding shortfalls, as Georgia's Department of Community Health announced that it would have to stop accepting enrollees next month.
 
Last week, Congressman Sanford Bishop again urged Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic leadership to help on the issue. His initial request came in January, after a bi-partisan delegation from Georgia attended a meeting arranged by Bishop. Participating in the meeting were Members of Congress, including several from the Georgia delegation, and key staffers from the House of Representatives responsible for the fate of PeachCare and the other SCHIP programs. Represented were House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office, the office of the Majority Whip, the House Budget Committee, House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Appropriations Committee.
 
Since that time, House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid both urged President Bush to submit emergency supplemental appropriations to save SCHIP. The President failed to act on that request, which forced the states to appeal to Congress.
 
Congressman Bishop remarked, "I am pleased that the House leadership is moving to respond to the needs presented by this crisis. Thousands of Georgia children - as well as countless others across the country - will be able to continue to receive health care through programs like PeachCare. Along with the other Members from affected states, I am grateful that Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic Leadership are taking action to help us resolve this issue."
 
The supplemental appropriations bill is expected to be considered by the House and Senate in March.
 
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Caroline Burns
Press Secretary
U.S. Representative Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.
2429 Rayburn HOB, Washington D.C. 20515
P: 202.225.3631
C: 202.536.7768
F: 202.225.2203