Washington, DC – Rep. Tom Price (GA-06-R) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 976, the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007. Representative Price, a physician for more than 25 years, opposed this expansion of government-run medicine.

“The legislation passed today has nothing to do with our nation’s neediest children and everything to do with political posturing,” said Price. “Rather than offering bipartisan legislation that focuses on needy kids, this proposal extends bureaucratic, taxpayer-funded health care to people who are neither poor, nor children.

“Moving forward with a significant expansion of Washington-controlled bureaucratic health care under the auspices of helping children is dishonest and exploitative. Democrats have made it clear that they will stop at nothing in their desired march toward government-run health care.

“Reauthorizing SCHIP is essential. It should be done in a manner consistent with its original bipartisan intent – to help poor children. Because today’s legislation does not accomplish this, I was forced to oppose the bill. I’m hopeful we will be able to pass positive legislation to truly take care of those in need before the end of this week.”

Congressman Price is one of 122 Republican cosponsors of H.R. 3584, the SCHIP Extension Act of 2007. The legislation funds SCHIP consistent with the March 2007 baseline for the program. This extension will ensure that every state’s SCHIP program will be fully funded in a manner that reflects the intent of the program, while giving Congress enough time to develop a true bipartisan solution.