WASHINGTON. D.C. – House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) released the following statement today regarding his opposition to the Democrat-authored bill to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to insure adults, new immigrants, and families already covered by private health plans:

“At a time when we can barely fund and sustain current enrollment levels, expanding eligibility to immigrants while eliminating the mandate to cover 95% of children under 200% of the poverty level threatens the original intent of the SCHIP program.  The priority of SCHIP should always be to serve those children most in need of assistance – not subsidize those who already have access to private insurance.

“State budgets nationwide are already overwhelmed and are unable to meet many of their funding commitments – expanding SCHIP eligibility will only compound their budget challenges while the poorest of children could lose access to their only source of health care.”