MonticelloLive

This week our nation recognizes “Cover the Uninsured Week” which calls attention to the nearly 47 million Americans without health insurance.

Perhaps more disturbing is the fact that 9 million of those are children. As someone who cares deeply about the future of this country, one of my top priorities in Congress remains ensuring that our children receive the healthiest possible start in life. This is why I strongly believe that our children, the future of this country, should have health coverage at such a critical time in their young, developing lives.

Last year I voted twice to help pass legislation to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), yet both of these efforts were vetoed by the President. This bipartisan legislation would have extended vital health care to 11 million low-income, American children – including thousands of Arkansas children. As an Arkansas State Senator, I also helped pass the AR Kids First program, which relies on S-CHIP funding and now provides coverage for over 70,000 Arkansas children. If this can be done in Arkansas, it can and should also be done to benefit the rest of the country.

Since I first came to Congress, I have worked to find common sense solutions to our most critical problems including helping those without health insurance afford it. No child in this nation should have to grow up without health coverage, because one child without health care is one too many. I will continue to advocate in our nation’s Capitol to make covering our uninsured children, and all American citizens, a top priority so that quality health care is affordable and accessible for everyone.