Rep. Walden Bringing CHIP Renewal to House Floor Next Week

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., is planning to bring a six-year reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to the House floor, The Hill reports.

Walden, who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said new estimates by the Congressional Budget Office help clear the way for the program, the Hill noted.

"If we go to six years, it may have no cost," Walden said. "The good news is you can do six years and it costs you nothing."

He said the reauthorization, which he hopes to bring to the floor next week, could be attached to a short-term government funding bill, according to the Hill.

But he noted the CHIP legislation would probably not include money for community health centers or other Medicare "extenders."

"At this point it would just be CHIP. I'd like to do it all if we can, but we believe that CHIP could move forward," Walden said

Until now, there has been a dispute among lawmakers about how to pay for CHIP renewal, Roll Call reported.

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