Max Baucus

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I so change my request.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I also ask unanimous consent that following the vote on the Allard amendment, Senator Dorgan then be recognized.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I have two requests. First, I ask unanimous consent that at 5:20 today, the Senate vote in relation to the Allard amendment No. 2536, with the time from 5:15 to 5:20 p.m. equally divided between Senator Allard and myself or our designees; that no second degree amendments be in order to the amendment prior to the vote.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I ask my friend, how long does he wish to speak, 15, 20 minutes?

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, notwithstanding an earlier agreement, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Obama be recognized to speak next and, following Senator Obama, Senator Lott be recognized.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, the Senate has been very gracious in working out times. Two Democratic Senators spoke, and Senator Lott had the floor. So I ask consent now that the Senator from Wyoming, Mr. Barrasso, be able to speak--that would be two Republicans in a row--and following him, if he wishes, that Senator Kennedy be recognized to give a statement on the bill for about 15 minutes. I thank the Senator. So I ask consent that Senator Barrasso be recognized, and following Senator Barrasso that Senator Kennedy be recognized.

Mr. BAUCUS. I also ask unanimous consent that Senator Salazar be allowed to speak following Senator Bunning.

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, the psalmist sang: Out of the mouths of children and infants, You have ordained strength. Today we begin debate on a bill to renew and add strength to a program that helps children and infants, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, known as SCHIP. CHIP works. Since the plan began 10 years ago, CHIP, or the Children's Health Insurance Program, has cut the number of children without health insurance by more than a third, more than a third over the last 10 years. Health insurance matters. Children with health coverage are more likely to get the care they need when they need it; that is, if they have health coverage. Because of SCHIP, millions of children get checkups. They see doctors when they are sick. They get the prescriptive medicines they need. Uninsured children suffer. Uninsured kids are less likely to get care for sore throats, for earaches, and asthma. When care is delayed, small problems can become big problems. Nearly half of uninsured children have not had a checkup in the past year. Uninsured children are twice as likely to miss out on doctor visits or a checkup. I think of a single mother from my home town of Helena, MT, who learned that her son had epilepsy. When did she find out? She found out right after her son lost private health coverage. She checked into other health care plans but none covered the expensive medication her son needed. Plans called her son's epilepsy a preexisting condition. Then a friend told her about CHIP. She applied, and she found out her son was eligible. Thanks to CHIP, this young man got the medications he needed, and his mother got the peace of mind she deserved. CHIP, again known as Children's Health Insurance Program, makes sense as an investment. A child who is healthy can go to school. A child who is healthy in school is more likely to do well. A child who does well in school is more likely to get a job. And people with jobs are less likely to end up in jail or on public assistance. Thus, CHIP helps Americans to compete. Ensuring that kids can have health insurance is an investment in America's future. CHIP helps. CHIP helps more than 6 million children whose parents work but cannot afford insurance on their own--6 million. These low-income working families are not poor enough for Medicaid, and they are not rich enough to afford private health insurance. Ninety-one percent of children covered by CHIP live in families making less than twice the poverty level. It is time to strengthen CHIP. Millions of children have no health insurance. There are more kids without health insurance than there are kids in the first and second grades combined. Think of that: more kids without health insurance than there are kids in America in the first and second grades combined. Americans overwhelmingly support getting their kids healthy, and the Senate will begin debate on a bill that will fulfil CHIP's promise to the 6.6 million children now covered. And our bill will cover 3.2 million more children who are now uninsured. This bill is a good compromise. It puts enough resources on the table to make a difference for children. It keeps CHIP focused on kids, and it is fiscally responsible. We keep CHIP focused on kids. Childless adults who are covered today will transition off the program. No new waivers will be allowed for CHIP coverage of childless adults. Coverage of low-income parents will transition to separate block grants at a lower match rate. No new waivers will be allowed for CHIP coverage of parents. We build in flexibility. States will be able to designate CHIP funds to help families afford private coverage offered by employers or other sources. We pay for what we do. When Congress created CHIP in 1997, we paid for it with a cigarette tax. We continue that funding source. We increase the Federal tax on cigarettes by 61 cents, and we make proportional increases for other tobacco products. Increasing the cigarette tax will also discourage smoking, particularly among teens. And that will be good for kids, too. CHIP is the legacy of work by Senators of goodwill from across the spectrum. It is the legacy of work by Senators such as Chuck Grassley and Jay Rockefeller, Orrin Hatch and Ted Kennedy. This year, Senator Grassley and I worked with Senators Rockefeller and Hatch to craft a consensus package that was the basis of the bill, the bill before us today. The Finance Committee modified it and endorsed it with a strong 17- to-4 vote. I believe the committee has produced a bill of which the Senate can be proud. I thank my colleagues for their hard work, for their patience, and their commitment to getting something done. CHIP is not new. CHIP is tried and it is true. It has worked successfully for 10 years. And four out of five Americans would like to see Congress add new funds to the program. Now it is time for us to act. For the benefit of children and infants, let's provide strength to the benefit of children. Let's expand health care coverage, and for the benefit of children let's pass this legislation. Mr. President, I yield 10 minutes to one of the fathers of this program with whom I am very proud to have worked this last year, and did yeoman's work, did a great job for kids and also his State of West Virginia, Senator Rockefeller.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I thank my friend from West Virginia. Before the former chairman speaks, I compliment him on his steadfast advocacy for the members of his caucus and for the work for kids he has demonstrated. He has a difficult job. He is standing up for his side of the aisle. There was negotiation, innumerable meetings. I can't mention the number of meetings we have had, there have been so many. At the same time he has also worked for kids. I compliment him for working hard to accomplish both objectives.

Mr. BAUCUS. I yield 10 minutes to the chairman of the HELP Committee, one of the fathers of the CHIP program, the Senator from Massachusetts.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I now recognize the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Conrad from North Dakota, for 10 minutes.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I yield 7 minutes to the Senator from Oregon, a very valuable member of the committee and a tireless advocate for good, solid health care.

Mr. BAUCUS. If the Senator will yield, I note the Senator from West Virginia is a very busy man and he could be doing other things, other meetings, and so forth, but he has decided to stay on the floor during all debate on this bill, and I think that is a testament to how strongly he is committed to getting this legislation passed, as well as the Senator from Oregon. The two of you could be vying for who is an even stronger advocate for health care, and you both do a good job.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I yield 1 minute to the Senator from West Virginia.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I notice Senator Dole on the floor. I don't know if she wishes to speak on this measure. I see Senator Grassley is not on the floor, but I, on behalf of Senator Grassley, will yield such time as the Senator would like to consume.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I wish to reserve time for Senators to speak. I ask unanimous consent that the following time be reserved for these Senators: Casey, 5 minutes; Stabenow, 5 minutes; Whitehouse, 5 minutes; Bingaman, 5 minutes; and myself, the remaining 5 minutes. I think that totals 25. How much time remains on this side?

Mr. BAUCUS. Then I will cut myself down to 4 minutes.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I yield 5 minutes to the Senator from Pennsylvania, Senator Casey.

Mr. BAUCUS. The Senator can speak longer if he wishes. He is very passionate. I ask unanimous consent for 5 more minutes for the Senator from Pennsylvania.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I ask that Senator Stabenow now be recognized to speak for 5 minutes, a very valuable member of our committee, very active member of our committee, and a fountain of ideas.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the time on our side be reserved.

Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I understand the Senator from Iowa wishes to yield back the remainder of his time, and I understand that under the order, I have 2 minutes remaining.

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.