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Today, Senator John D. Rockefeller, the senior senator from West Virginia, introduced new legislation to support children and working families, The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Extension Act of 2014. The Children’s Defense Fund has rallied support for CHIP since its inception, recognizing its critical role in ensuring children a healthy start. Marian Wright Edelman, President of the Children’s Defense Fund released the following statement:

“Senator Rockefeller’s proposal to extend funding four more years for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is crucial to protect the health of millions of children across the country. CHIP has been a lifeline for children in low- and middle-income working families since its bipartisan beginning in 1997. It has helped cut the number of uninsured children by half, to the lowest level on record, while improving child health outcomes and access to care, reducing school absenteeism and improving children’s readiness to learn. Today, CHIP provides affordable, age-appropriate health coverage to more than 8 million children and remains critical for children even in this post-Affordable Care Act world. 

As a longtime champion for children, Senator Rockefeller knows there has been tremendous progress in covering children that must be preserved. We cannot afford to play politics with the health of our nation’s children. Children need action now. Congress must pass legislation this year that will extend CHIP funding four more years until the new health insurance marketplaces can provide children of working families with coverage that is at least as child appropriate, comprehensive and affordable as CHIP.”