Statement on President Trump’s proposal to cut funding for CHIP
This week the White House proposed to cut $7 billion from the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This directly contradicts a bipartisan bill passed by Congress and signed into law by the President just a few months ago that extended funding for CHIP. This abrupt about-face threatens the health insurance coverage for the more than 9 million children and roughly 370,000 pregnant women across the country who rely on CHIP.
The proposed cuts to CHIP will threaten states’ ability to maintain their CHIP program and fundamentally undercuts the carefully constructed bipartisan agreement from earlier this year. Specifically, the President’s proposed cuts would come from the funds set aside to ensure stability for CHIP, including funds that help states cover unexpected enrollment in the program, such as after a natural disaster or an economic downturn. The White House proposal is disconnected from the realities facing America’s families and puts children’s health coverage at risk.
1,000 Days strongly opposes the White House rescission package. America’s families already spent far too many months wondering and worrying if CHIP would be there for their children’s health care needs. Congress and the White House ultimately came through and put in place a strong funding package to make sure CHIP could meet families’ needs. We cannot go backwards. Congress must make the health and well-being of young children and their families a priority. To do this, it must reject the rescission package proposed by the White House and maintain the current, bipartisan funding for CHIP.