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By: Delisi (Senate Sponsor - Nelson) H.C.R. No. 57
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 10, 2003;
April 14, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on Health
and Human Services; May 2, 2003, reported favorably by the
following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 2, 2003, sent to printer.)
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.
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