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By:  Delisi                                                     H.C.R. No. 57 



HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, Federal funding for the State Children's Health 
Insurance Program (SCHIP), enacted in 1997 by the United States 
Congress, is provided through state-specific, annual allotments; 
and
	WHEREAS, Several states have been unable to use all of their 
allotments, while other states spent all available funds; and
	WHEREAS, Absent a statutory change, states with excess funds 
from prior years would lose millions in funding and put underserved 
children's health in jeopardy; and
	WHEREAS, The State of Texas's two-year appropriations cycle 
delayed the initiation of the SCHIP program, presenting barriers to 
the full utilization of early-year SCHIP allotments; and
	WHEREAS, The State of Texas began the 2002-2003 biennium 
enrolling more children in SCHIP faster than any other state in the 
country; and
	WHEREAS, The State of Texas, specifically, stands to lose 
$248 million in unspent SCHIP funds; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas 
hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to enact 
legislation amending Title XXI of the Social Security Act to extend 
the availability of allotments for fiscal years 1998 through 2001 
under the State Children's Health Insurance Program; and, be it 
further
	RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official 
copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, the 
speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the 
senate of the United States Congress, and all the members of the 
Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this 
resolution be officially entered into the Congressional Record of 
the United States of America.