74th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2007 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
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 LC 3819
 
                           A-Engrossed
 
                     House Joint Memorial 23
                   Ordered by the House May 4
             Including House Amendments dated May 4
 
Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
 
  Urges Congress to reauthorize State Children's Health Insurance
Program in timely manner.
 
                         JOINT MEMORIAL
To the Governor of the State of Oregon and the Senate and the
  House of Representatives of the United States of America, in
  Congress assembled:
  We, your memorialists, the Seventy-fourth Legislative Assembly
of the State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled,
respectfully represent as follows:
  Whereas the health of Oregon's children is of paramount
importance to Oregon's families and communities; and
  Whereas the social and psychological well-being and educational
achievement of Oregon's children is threatened by poor health;
and
  Whereas protecting the health of our children is essential to
the well-being of our youngest citizens, our prospects for
developing a competitive workforce and the quality of life in our
state; and
  Whereas 116,000 children in Oregon currently have no health
coverage; and
  Whereas nearly two out of every three uninsured children in
Oregon live in low-income households; and
  Whereas most uninsured children in Oregon living in low-income
households live with an adult who works full time; and
  Whereas employer-sponsored health insurance for low-income
workers is eroding many times faster than employer-sponsored
health insurance for high-income workers; and
  Whereas federal funding available through the State Children's
Health Insurance Program is targeted to uninsured children in
families with modest incomes; and
  Whereas federal funds obtained through the State Children's
Health Insurance Program are an integral part of health coverage
for many Oregon children living in low-income households,
including more than 52,000 children in 2005; and
  Whereas both the United States House of Representatives and the
United States Senate have approved budget resolutions that
include a reserve fund of $50 billion as part of the
reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program;
now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
  (1) The Congress of the United States is respectfully urged to:
  (a) Reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program
in a timely manner;
  (b) Deliver $50 billion in new funding for public children's
health coverage programs; and
  (c) Provide states with new tools, options and financial
support in order to effectively reach more children in the
future.
  (2) The Governor of the State of Oregon is respectfully urged
to work with the Oregon Congressional Delegation to encourage
their colleagues in Congress to:
  (a) Reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program
in a timely manner;
  (b) Deliver $50 billion in new funding for public children's
health coverage programs; and
  (c) Provide states with new tools, options and financial
support in order to effectively reach more children in the
future.
  (3) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to the Governor of
the State of Oregon, to the Director of Human Services for the
State of Oregon, to the Secretary of the United States Department
of Health and Human Services and to each member of the Oregon
Congressional Delegation.
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