WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) urged his colleagues to avert a government shutdown and approve the House-passed bill that funds the government and reauthorizes the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). 

“We must work to ensure these families need not worry every few years, or as of now, months, regarding continued access to benefits for the health and wellbeing of their children. We must commit to passing this extension to provide these families peace of mind and stability,” Boozman said on the Senate floor. “Because Arkansans recognize how important this program is, my office has received a significant amount of inquiries on this issue. Our response has always been the same. Everyone in Congress is working in good faith to find a solution. At least it seemed that way up until a few days ago. I would've supported a five-year authorization like the one my colleagues on the other side of the aisle were pushing for. And guess what? We did even better with the six-year reauthorization attached to the continuing resolution.”

Watch Boozman’s speech

Approximately 50,000 Arkansas children and nearly 9 million low-income children nationwide, receive healthcare through CHIP. The program expired in September and many states are operating the program on reserve funds, which will run out soon.

CHIP is included in the continuing resolution that funds the government through February 16, 2018.