host: the children's health insurance program, give us a and what f what it is it does? guest: enacted in 1997, been reauthorized several times since enactment. there are about nine million in the program. it covers, focuses on coverage suggests.as the name higher cally covers income children that weren't previously covered under medicaid. so it's about $15 billion rogram, like medicaid, the federal government kick necessary money, states kick in money and that is how coverage children.d to host: what happens when the federal government stops kick nothing money to the program? guest: the program expired at the end of september. the option of carrying over money they had reviously received, but not extended to continue providing coverage to the children that provide coverage to today. they also had access, once those spent, to -- what is called redistribution fund. come in and pull off some money from a national pool to keep going. states have done that already, they have already een through their carry-over funding, asked for and received redistribution funding. macpa c h

but also provides short-term funding for the state, children -- for the state children's health insurance program, also known as chip. this program provides vital health coverage for approximately nine million children nationwide. so when my colleagues on the other side of the aisle vote no, no that -- know that they're also voting against these nine million children who need access to health insurance. while i'm glad we have the short-term funding, i too am disappointing to stand here today without congress having completed its work to fully fund chip for the next five years. we did that in the house on a bipartisan says by. this -- basis. this bill also provides funding for community health centers. in my district, 63 different centers take care of men, women, and children. it takes care of teaching health center graduate education and special diabetes program as well. a no vote today is a vote against all those programs. it's worth noting that the house passed a bill, championing the healthy -- the championing healthy kids act, in november. it will fund the chip program for five years and the

you support a clean bill like that, to keep children's health insurance going for about 8 or 9 million kids? >> i support extending the c.h.i.p. programildren's health insurance serves a vital need in connecticut and elsewhere around the connecticut. but we also need a d.r.e.a.m. act and an act extending -- >> but why not just have a clean bill, get the c.h.i.p. passed in a bipartisan way, and then on the d.r.e.a.m.ers, the daca legislation, you work it another venue along those lines? why do you have to bring all of that together and endanger both? >> both should be clean. and we should do both. and we should do both by the end of the year. we should not leave washington, d.c. without fulfilling -- >> but what if they can't do it by the end of the year, they do it in january, let's say. you support that? >> i would support doing the d.r.e.a.m. act pbefore the end f the year. i think it's a fundamental obligation. there should be an extension of government funding. there should be a supplemental funding for disaster relief, for puerto rico, and florida and texas. there should be a variety of measures. and i support the d.r.e.a.m. act,

oregon, 140,000 children right now that receive their health care through the children's health insurance program. starting in january, if there's no action, we will see millions of children losing their health insurance. california, colorado, delaware, florida, idaho, massachusetts, pennsylvania, texas, utah, virginia. and then each month we will seal funding that will be eliminated. and in total, we're talking about nine million children. this has been a bipartisan program. this came out of committee on a bipartisan vote in september. senator hatch, senator wyden, i was pleased to join them in putting together a five-year extension. it came out of committee strong bipartisan support. only one no vote. i assumed that it was going to be brought up on the floor before september 30 and passed. and yet, 73 days later children and families across the country are still waiting. the other piece of health care that's been so critical to families, to children, to individuals across our country is funding for community health centers which, by the way, also has strong bipartisan support. senator roy blunt

in that regard we are here to talk about the children's health insurance program, also known as chip, that provides essential medical services like routine checkups, immunizations, dental and vision prescriptions, and emergency services to 9 million children of hard-working families who don't qualify for medicaid and can't afford insurance. kids are going to get kicked off chip if we do not immediately reauthorize it, and sadly, republicans are taking a page from the ebenezer scrooge playbook. they propose the continued funding chip by rating the prevention and public health fund that pays for very, very valuable things like children's immunization and vaccine. poisoning and diabetes prevention. so keeping with the holiday spirit, democrats say bah humbug to that. we demand a better deal. ones that will reauthorize chip without causing harm to other valuable programs. and with that i turn this over to our vice chair of the democratic working women's group, brenda. >> brenda warren. >> yes. >> i want to think the leadership of lois frankel and all those who stand with us. today as we o

coming to me every day and the texas children's hospital wondering about the children's health insurance program because people are hurting. you know, i'm not trying to oppose a bill for myself. i'm opposing a bill that doesn't have the needs of the american people. it doesn't have health care in it. it doesn't have the hurricane funding in it. it doesn't have the funding we need for the army corps for pending projects to stop the major catastrophic flooding in houston, harris county. and it has low, nondefense spending, and let me be very clear. i want a prepared military. i want them to have the training and the equipment that they need. it doesn't have that as well. so, frankly, i believe that we have to stand against a war on the american people. a tax bill that's moving along but the appropriations is not. $1.4 trillion taken out of the fat that does not exist so the bones of the american people's budget so that a tax cut can go to the top 62% and 80% but we can't have the funding -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady's time has expired. ms. jackson lee: this is a war on the american p

coming to me every day and the texas children's hospital wondering about the children's health insurance program because people are hurting. you know, i'm not trying to oppose a bill for myself. i'm opposing a bill that doesn't have the needs of the american people. it doesn't have health care in it. it doesn't have the hurricane funding in it. it doesn't have the funding we need for the army corps for pending projects to stop the major catastrophic flooding in houston, harris county. and it has low, nondefense spending, and let me be very clear. i want a prepared military. i want them to have the training and the equipment that they need. it doesn't have that as well. so, frankly, i believe that we have to stand against a war on the american people. a tax bill that's moving along but the appropriations is not. $1.4 trillion taken out of the fat that does not exist so the bones of the american people's budget so that a tax cut can go to the top 62% and 80% but we can't have the funding -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady's time has expired. ms. jackson lee: this is a war on the american p

>> the children's health insurance program. they have to find a permanent fix to that. also surveillance program, that's got to be dealt with. negotiations are going on regarding young immigrants brought to the country illegally. daca runs out for them. those protections in march. they're hoping for a january vote $81 billion in disaster funding. texas, florida, puerto rico still up in the air. >> wow. talk about a lengthy agenda there. >> thank you very much, tracie. >>> now to the most unusual local election results we've ever seen. all week long, we've been bringing you the latest updates on the delegate race from newport news. >> they're stuck in a tie. the race is proof every vote counts. >> it really is a -- in democracy. my kids at school, their teachers their friends come in and say, i was that one vote, shelly. i'm going to hear that for a long time. >> here's what happens next. both candidates will go to richmond next wednesday. election official will literally who wins the race. really the only way to decide this. their names will be in canisters, not just a p

. >> to pass legislation that will prevent kids enrolled in children's health insurance program from losing their health care. the children's health insurance program provides healthcare coverage to over 100,000 children in michigan and 9 million children nationwide. i recall welcoming the new senate finance chairman hatch, they reach the bipartisan agreement to exchange healthcare benefits for these children. the finance committee held a hearing and a mark up on the bill in october. we know that regular order has become a rare event in the senate today and i appreciate bipartisan effort to have a senate vote on a bill for nations children. and the bipartisan bill to come to the floor and pass broad bipartisan support, families across the nation who are worried about whether children get healthcare in 2018. in the months since those good-faith efforts, have not seen a vote in legislation. this is inexcusable, we must take action now, states are already notifying families their healthcare plans may be canceled if congress does not act. states like louisiana, texas, virginia and others

pelosi: the children's health insurance program serves nine million children in our country. its authorization ended on september 30, the end of the fiscal year. for three months, nearly, how many months is that, we have had this vacuum where states are losing funds. running out of funds to meet the needs. and what are the republicans doing? they sent a bill to the floor called the walden bill. how they pay, because you have to pay for children's health, you have to pay for corporate america. -- you don't have to pay for corporate america. you have to pay for children's health. how do they pay for it? what offsets do they use? other children's health. in order to pay for the chips program, they'll take money out of the prevention fund which is about inoculations for children. it's about addressing lead poisoning regard to children. and other issues that relate to children's health. so they are saying to children, we'll pass children's health insurance programs, but you are going to pay for it out of another children's account. that's totally unacceptable. that's the bill they

republican majority has prioritized thire tax scam bill over re-authorizing the children's health care insurance program, community health centers, helping dreamers and funding our government. which brings us to where we are now. days before christmas. scrambling to fulfill our most basic responsibilities. we should be doing more here than just trying to keep the lights on. we have a responsibility toward the hundreds of thousands of young americans and they are americans in every way except on paper, who have been betrayed by this administration. we need to pass the dream act and we need to do it now. 34 of my republican colleagues have already spoken up and urged speaker ryan to help these young people. the majority of this house is ready to do the right thing. mr. speaker, here sour chance to do just that. if we defeat the previous question, i will offer an amendment to the rule to bring up h.r. 3440, the dream act. the bipartisan, bicameral legislation that has the support of the majority of this house and would pass if it were brought up for a vote. mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to insert th

chamber urging colleagues to pass legislation to prevent kids enrolled in the children's health insurance program from losing their health care. the children's health insurance program or chip provides coverage to over 100,000 children in my home state of michigan and 9 million children nationwide. i recall welcoming the news that since -- senator hatch and why did reach a bipartisan agreement to extend the health care benefits for the children. they work together and went throughel regular order, the finance committee held a hearing in m the markup of the bill in october. we although regular order is a very rare event in the senate today and i appreciated a bipartisan effort to have a senate vote on a bill that is critical to our nation's children. i expected this bill would come to the floor and pass with broad bipartisan in relief bringing families across the nation never worried their children would have health care in 2018. . . . . >>> story >> a amount of funds within weeks. in my home state of michigan i heard from parents who are worried about whether their children will still be able to

but also provides short-term funding for the state, children -- for the state children's health insurance program, also known as chip. this program provides vital health coverage for approximately nine million children nationwide. so when my colleagues on the other side of the aisle vote no, no that -- know that they're also voting against these nine million children who need access to health insurance. while i'm glad we have the short-term funding, i too am disappointing to stand here today without congress having completed its work to fully fund chip for the next five years. we did that in the house on a bipartisan says by. this -- basis. this bill also provides funding for community health centers. in my district, 63 different centers take care of men, women, and children. it takes care of teaching health center graduate education and special diabetes program as well. a no vote today is a vote against all those programs. it's worth noting that the house passed a bill, championing the healthy -- the championing healthy kids act, in november. it will fund the chip program for five years and the

his health insurance could not guarantee coverage in utah where the family lives, but their income made them eligible for coverage through the children's health insurance programyou didn't have chip, what would paying all this mean for the family? >> realistically we would probably have to go on food stamps just to pay for life, so we could pay our medical bills. >> reporter: the parents aren't the only ones feeling the financial stress. >> they're always telling us how it's not our problem to worry about, but i worry about it anyways because it's like kind of my fault in a way. but it always is like no, it's not your problem to worry about. >> reporter: the children's health insurance program is funded through a mix of state and federal money. but federal funding lapsed in september and congress has yet to agree on a way to pay for it on a long-term basis leaving the program and the reynolds in limbo. >> it has opened up kind of a pandora's box a little bit emotionally to be able to not know what's going to happen in the next six months, two years, five years. >> reporter: the reynolds are not alone. approximate approximately 20,000 children here in utah and

care and shore up pension plans, we'll also be pushing to reauthorize chip, the children's health insurance program, and community health centers, as well as dealing with certain health care programs that have expired. we have to do more for the americans in texas, florida, louisiana, puerto rico, and the u.s. virgin islands who are still recovering from devastating natural disasters. we're in the process of negotiating with republicans to provide a significant investment in border security in exchange for daca. these talks continue to progress, and i'm hopeful we can preach agreement on that issue as well. so, mr. president, we have got a lot to get done before the end of the year. we don't have much time to do it. but with a concerted effort of both parties, negotiating in good faith, i believe we can reach an agreement acceptable, not to every member of either chamber, but to large numbers of members on both sides of the aisle so we can pass by a wide margin our agreement. mr. president, i yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.

in the to make sure that we have health care, health insurance, which was a bipartisan program, the children's health insurance plan. anything. no. so the dreamers aren't deported, people who only know this country? and think about this. since the president himself, and this is an area where we have some agreement, declared that we have a national emergency, our people, our children, are dying due to this opioid crisis, where is the solution there? where is the debate there? where is the effort on the floor of the house to deal with these big, pressing problems that our country faces? we've had the last two and a half months we could have done it in that period. what has been the focus? a singular obsession. around a piece of legislation that is purported to be tax reform but a close examination by just about any significant economist, democrats, republicans and independents, is the greatest, most significant massive shift of hard-earned wealth from working americans to people who make more than $900,000 a year. the notion that with all the difficulty we're facing in this country, with all the

kpix 5's katie nielsen is >>> as congress is focused on that new tax bill a health insurance program unning out of money. katie nielsen reports from the newsroom. >>> reporter: the children's health insurance program or chip provides coverage for almost 2 million children and pregnant women across the state. if congress doesn't act soon, there won't be any money to keep paying for that program. now, the issue isn't whether congress wants to continue chip. it does have bipartisan support. but what they can't agree on is how to pay for it. chip provides insurance for about 9 million people across the country. california has the largest enrollment of any state at 1.3 million people. that's why california gets most of the money from the federal government, about $3 billion a year to pay for the program. if congress can't decide on the funding soon, the state will be responsible for paying. >> it means that a kid who with insurance would go to the doctor's office with a sore throat and get a cheap antibiotic is going to end up in the emergency room making the taxpayers pay a whole hell of

and he just spoke very eloquen eloquently about a program called the children's health insurance program, which is part of our medicaid program. it provides health insurance for the children of america who are too pour to be sick. that bill will pass. the children's health insurance program will be removed. i want to look the american people in the eye right now and tell them do not worry, do not worry. this is an extraordinarily able program that has served the people in this country and our country well, and i don't want anybody to be unnecessarily frightened at christmas. if you're a mom or a dad or a child or a concerned citizen out there today and you hear that chip is in danger with all the respect i can muster, i want to say it's not. don't believe it. the chip program will be renewed. let me just talk a second about taxes. in a few days we're going to vote on a tax system and that vote will be a vote as much as anything on people's opinion about the current tax system. no reasonable person can look at america's current tax system and be impressed. for one thing, it's enormously c

patients rely on some form of government subsidized health insurance money but medicaid covers the poorest families while the children's health insurance program provides affordable care for parents who make more money but still not enough for private insurance congress has not been able to agree on a long term funding plan for chip just one of many uncertainties hanging over parents not only do we have problems with chip we have problems with community health centers not getting funded and that's that if we don't get the funding for that we know we're going to have to cut costs probably services as well the staff the umbilical hernia is getting smaller so i don't i don't think so a loss of services is a worry for sewell role who works in retail and could purchase insurance through his employer but doesn't earn enough to cover his one year old son very disappointing because if that happens what were we going to do. they should wide nine million children get their medical coverage through the children's health insurance program known as chip how the program is administered varies from state to state but one thing is universal and that is the ne

it's funding through the end of march the children's health insurance program, a program that lapses in september, and this bill will have $3 billion to keep that moving forward, and this bill will extend

in addition, it includes a provision to assure states of the future of the children's health insurance program while a bipartisan reauthorization agreement is completed. all members should be able to support this noncontroversial short-term legislation. we'll continue to work to pass a funding agreement that advances a number of american priorities, something we will be discussing with the president on thursday, along with democratic leaders of the house and senate. yesterday, the senate democratic leader expressed his opposition to a government shutdown. i certainly agree with him. so i hope he and his fellow democrats will continue to work with us in good faith to pass this short-term funding bill and maintain the critical functions of the federal government. now, one final matter. last night, our colleagues in the house voted to send the tax reform legislation to conference committee. there members of both chambers will work to resolve the differences in our bills and eventually enable us to send the final product to the president for his signature. the house's action last night is more pro

urging my colleagues to passg legislation that will prevent kids enrolled in the children's health insurance program from losing their health care. the children's health insurance program or chip, provides health care coverage to over 100,000 children in my home state of michigan and more than nine million childrenve nationwide. i recall welcoming the news that senate finance chairman hatch and ranking member wyden had reached a bipartisan agreement to extend the health care benefits for these children. they worked together and they went through regular order. the finance committee held a hearing, and a markup on the bill in october. we all know that regular order haser become a very rare event n the senate today. and i appreciated a bipartisan effort to have a senate vote on a bill that is absolutely critical to our nation's children. i certainly expected that this bipartisan bill would comehi to the floor and pass with broad birpartisan support, thus bringing relief to families across the nation who are worried whether their children will continue to have health care in 2018. unfortunately in the

what about the children's health insurance program? guest: the government funding extension includes a patch for the children's health insurance program that would keep it funded through march. sides of the aisle will still have to work on finding a long-term agreement to keep it funded. republicans have been very laser focused on tax reform for the the couple of months so children's health insurance program has been kind of delayed for a long time as a result and republicans and democrats haven't been able to agree on how to pay for the program for a five-year authorization. host: all of this debate gets underway at 8:00 when the house rules committee will be gaveling in. what are you watching for after that? when could these votes take place on the house floor? i would expect later this afternoon. the house rules committee is .eeting they can move as soon as they can after that. the house gavels in at 9:00. this could happen as early this afternoon. that's a signayed that they don't have the votes. host: and in the senate? guest: that

the rules committee occupying legislative time that could be addressing the flood insurance program, the children's health insurance program, intelligence tools that keep this country safe, that are about to expire. we could have been addressing the hurricane relief of puerto rico, the virgin islands and southwest louisiana. we could have been addressing e fires in california, oregon, montana, and other areas of the country. we could have been addressing the flood in texas that devastated portions of that area as well. as well as during that same period of time we've had tornadoes and other issues indicating how critical it is that we support these matters. we could have been dealing with the real infrastructure measure. everyone in this country knows our roads and bridges are in despicable shape at this point, and it is not as if we do have the ability to do something about it. we don't have the political will, so we're wasting legislative time here today with these daunting tasks fore us and this is what the republican majority chooses to focus on. trying to pass a tax bill, for example, that gives most

president, i'd like to take a moment to discuss the children's health insurance program, or chip. as we all know, the authorization for chip expired at the end of september. since that time, states have been utilizing their reserve funds in order to cover the health care needs of kids, and for a number of states, those funds are due to run out in the near future. there have been a number of claims from our friends on the other side and some of our allies in the media, the republicans have ignored the chip program, or that we don't intend to reauthorize it or that we supposedly placed a higher priority on tax cuts for the rich than on providing for -- health insurance for needy children. that's just ridiculous, and they know it. it gets a little old sometimes when the stupid politics are being played by the other side. i am both the original author of chip, and i currently chair the committee with jurisdiction over the program. nobody should doubt my commitment to continuing the chip program. for two decades now, i have been a supporter of chip and have worked with members of both p

it will also provide certainty to states to continue funding the children's health insurance program. later today speaker ryan, leader schumer, and pelosi will continue to discuss an agreement to fund the federal government. i look forward to working with colleagues in a serious, bipartisan way to address a number of the priorities of our nation in the coming weeks. i hope all members will join me.

it extended the short-term extension to the children's health insurance program or c.h.i.p. and provides funding for a health care provision. the fund also sends $4 billion to the department of defense. some lawmakers expressed concerns about the recent frenetic pace on capitol hill. >> i've seen people of good will of both parties try mightily and so far consistently fail to get us back to regular order and to end this process of moving crisis to crisis. >> the house also passed a separate $81 billion disaster relief bill to help puerto rico and states like california and they delayed the bill until the new year. >> recovery and rebuilding efforts go on. >> president trump is expected to sign both the funding bill and the new tax overhaul bill as soon as today. and the measure holds off most of capitol hill's unfinished business on immigration and health care. then democrats are poised to have greater influence. anne-marie. >> hena doba here in new york. thank you so much, hena. >>> the holiday getaway is under way, and today is one of the busiest travel days of the season.

we thought the original plan was to bring up chip, the children's health insurance program, and include community health centers with it and get that done before september 30. the clock is ticking every single day, and it has not been done. now folks may be trying to hold it hostage politically for some reason or trying to get some deal at the end of the year. in the meantime families are worrying, member -- men and women are worrying, veterans are worrying about whether or not they're going to continue to get their health care. let me go back to where i started. today is 67 days. tomorrow will be 68 days since the funding for two health care programs that had broad bipartisan support over the years, broad bipartisan support today, 67 days since that funding has stopped. i'd like to close, mr. president, with a story from a gentleman named darrin whose life was changed by one of michigan's community health centers. he shared with me his story. darrin was an unemployed truck driver when he moved to jackson, michigan, four years ago. he hadn't seen a doctor for a decade. and in his words,

that i think i believe will get resolved this afternoon. >> let's talk about children's health insurance program. would extend funding for that program through march i believe. nearly 9 million children across this country stand to lose health coverage if the program is not refunded. there's been bipartisan support for the program in the past. why has congress not voted on long-term funding for the chip program? does it go back to what you said about responding to deadline, even if we're talking about millions of children? >> well, it's going to get funded. this funding will get to the end of march. then it's going to be a much big bill i suspect in mid to late january that would fund it going forward. a state like south carolina where we're from is already funded to the spring. i think it's, again, the reality of the way the system works. it responds to deadlines. >> is that the best -- not to get into a larger conversation about the role of congress, but is that how our elected representatives should be running government, this sort of five, six month -- i mean, that's not how you manage finan

the bill serves as a short-term extension to the children's health insurance program or c.h.i.p. and provides funding for a veteran health care provision. the fund also sends $4 billion to the department of defense. it comes days after they passed the sweeping tax plan. some lawmakers expressed concerns about the recent frenetic pace on capitol hill. >> i've seen people of good will of both parties try mightily and so far consistently fail to get us back to regular order and to end this process of moving crisis to crisis. >> the house also passed a separate $81 billion disaster relief bill to help puerto rico and states like texas, florida, and k, recently impacted by hurricanes and wildfires. the senate, though, voted to delay the new measure until the new year. >> recovery and rebuilding efforts go on. >> president trump is expected to sign both the funding bill and the new tax overhaul bill as soon as today. and the measure holds off most of capitol hill's unfinished business until january on immigration, potential budget agreement, and health care. then democrats are poised to

of losing health care coverage because congress has failed to reauthorize the children's health insurance program chip. the program expired on september 30th. it's astounding because both republicans and democrats support the program that mak sure kids get health care if their parents can't afford insurance but earn too much for medicaid. six states will run out of funding by the end of the year, basically in two weeks! 30 other states, and washingt d.c. say they can only get to march. groups like the children's health fund, which provides care to kids with the least access, say without funding, progress on children's health will be lost. dr. marcee white is a pediatrician and the medical director for the children's d-c. >> many o on this program to ensure thr pediatricians, they can get receive immunizations to keep them healthy and ready to learn in the classroom. so many states are reducing the number of children and famili that can be enrolled the programs just because they do not know and they have to lo at the budget and figure out where they need to make the adjustments. soledad: dr. white

matt's health insurance could into the guarantee coverage in utah where the family lives, but their income make them eligible for coverage through the children's health insurance program.i.p. if you didn't have c.h.i.p., what would paying all this mean for the family? >> probably have to go on food stamps. just to pay for life so we can pay our medical briills. >> reporter: and they aren't the only ones feeling the stress. >> they are telling us like it is not our problem, but i worry about it anyways because like it is kind of my fault in a way. but it always just like -- no, it's not your problem to worry about. >> reporter: the children's health insurance program is funded through a mix of state and federal money. but federal funding lapsed in september and congress has yet to agree on a way to pay for it on a long term basis. leaving the program and the reynolds in limbo. >> it has opened up a pandora's box emotionally to be able to not know what is going to be handing in the next sinkxt 60si a year. >> reporter: and they are not alone. 9 million nationwide stand to lose coverage if c.h.i.p. funding runs out. >> i don't know what could be more disgusting than putt

the children's health insurance program, i think it is outrageous that they spent a deficit adding $1.5 trillion, and are leaving without giving that assurance program, that's $15 billion a year. you're right, there were quibbling about the cost and the cost of health care from other people to pay for and democrats don't want to do that. they're looking at a world where we should cut health insurance for some people. i think, you know, i think the american people could ask how it's possible that the congress, which is run by republicans can pass a trillion and a half tax cut for people who are in the top 1%. 81% of benefits when it comes to health insurance. >> amanda, i know you care about the deficit and the national debt. do you think, are you worried that the republicans have basically now just taken away any moral argument on that because they did pass this tax bill which, you know, conservative estimates are it will add a trillion dollars to the national debt. some people dispute it'll cost a huge economic boom. but that's not what the most analysis are. >> here's what it comes do

we must renew funding for the children's health insurance program so parents of nine million children covered by chip can know their children's health care is secure. we must authorize a critical foreign intelligence program that the men and women of american law enforcement need to keep our nation safe from those who wish to harm us. we must renew the popular veterans choice program which aims to cut wait times for v.a. health care and give our veterans flexibility to access care outside the system. we must approve supplemental disaster funding for states and territories that are still struggling to rebuild after a year of devastating disasters. we must pass a routine waiver to avoid unacceptable cuts in medicare funding and other vital programs. since the enactment of the paygo law in 2010 congress never allowed its sequester to take effect especially for tax bills, and we must again act this week to ensure that vulnerable americans are not harmed. and of particular importance faced with the continued failure of obamacare to keep health insurance affordable for working americans, we

lights on and will put out the issues until mid-january, is it too late for the children's health insurance programcould be. there are several states running out of money. they're notifying parents, eun, that they are going to have to find some other way to pay t if congress doesn't act this week. putting off the decisions until what we're hearing january 19th, that's not going to help them at all. >> no, it's going to affect a lot of families. tracie potts, thanks so much. virginia senator mark warner is now sending a terron warning to president trump. -- stern warning to president trump. the growing criticism of robert mueller's russia investigation is concerning. >> the president's track record on this front is a source of concern. i'm certain that most of my colleagues believe that he wouldn't fire jim comey either. >> senator warner made it clear that all members of congress should declare that removing the special counsel is wrong. he also said that attempt to fire mueller or to pardon anyone charged in the investigation would lead to a constitutional crisis. >>> here at home, we're working t

golden state almost two million children and pregnant women get their health insurance through the children's health insurance program or chip. but if you look at this map from the kaiser family foundation, you can see california is projected to run out of those federal dollars to pay for chip by the end of the month. the issue isn't whether congress wants to continue the program. it has bipartisan support. but what they can't agree on is how to pay for it. california's been getting almost $3 billion a year from the federal government to fund the program. now, if congress can't decide on the funding soon, the state will have to pay. >> if chip goes away and that's going to blow a billion-dollar hole in our state budget. >> reporter: chip started almost 20 years ago as a way to provide health care for working class and low-income families many of whom aren't always able to get employer insurance. california has more people in the program than any other state, more than a million children and half million pregnant women. >> we are close to the end of the year. how likely is it that congress will pass this before the ho

health program. almost $5 billion in emergency funding to the pentagon and, again, some temporary funding to hold over that children's health insurancerogram where 9 million kids, low and middle income kids are covered. but, again, some people are concerned that's not enough to last through march. >> boy, i mean, their to-do list is this high. what's at the top of their agenda? >> fully funding or permanently funding chip, the children's health insurance program is a big one. there are negotiations under way for daca, the protection for young immigrants brought here illegally. that may come to a vote in january. they did not review the warrantless wiretaps for foreigners on u.s. soil. that's got to be dealt with. the skyrocketing insurance premiums, what to do now to purchase health nrnts. some people are looking at $3,000 to $4,000 a month for insurance premiums. they helped stabilize that and provide the subsidies for companies providing insurance to low-income families. that didn't get done either. >> tracie, get some hot tea and take care of your voice. >>> president trump is leaving for mar-a-lago later this morning with his wou

this is something we've done bipartisanly, is there children's health insurance program. >> can i get the floor back. no one believes more in the children's health insurance program than i. i invented it. i was the one who wrote it. kennedy came to be the one to help put it through. >> we recognize, that mr. chairman. >> of course we do. i don't think i do everything on my own here. we have to have good democrat friend to do it. i don't think you do either. let me tell you something, we'll do chip, there is no question about it in my mind. it hasit to be done the right w. but, the reason chip is having troubles. we don't have any money anymore. just to add more and more spending. you look at the rest of the bill for the more and more spending. i happen to think chip has done a terrific job for people who reallyly needed the help. i have taken the position around here for my whole senate service, i believe in helping those who can not help themselves but would if they could. i havee a rough time wanting to spend billions and billions and trillions of dollars to help people who won't he

host: the children's health insurance program, give us a and what f what it is it does? guest: enacted in 1997, been reauthorized several times since enactment. there are about nine million in the program. it covers, focuses on coverage suggests.as the name higher cally covers income children that weren't previously covered under medicaid. so it's about $15 billion rogram, like medicaid, the federal government kick necessary money, states kick in money and that is how coverage children.d to host: what happens when the federal government stops kick nothing money to the program? guest: the program expired at the end of september. the option of carrying over money they had reviously received, but not extended to continue providing coverage to the children that provide coverage to today. they also had access, once those spent, to -- what is called redistribution fund. come in and pull off some money from a national pool to keep going. states have done that already, they have already een through their carry-over funding, asked for and received redistribution funding. macpa c h

the tax overhaul with the to do lead includes urgent matters like funding fir a major health insurance program and preventing a government shut down. money runs out on friday so as nbc's casey hunt reports, there is no time to waste. >> with the holidays fast approaching, the reynolds family is waiting for congress, not santa. >> the bill is exactly where we are at. >> five of the 10 children rely on the children's health insurance program to cover over $100,000? costs each year. >> for us chip is not if sally happens to break her arm or get sick and it's nice to have coverage for little accidents. for us it's to keep them alive. >> nine million children are covered. it helps those who don't qualify for medicate and can't afford insurance. congress hasn't passed a fix. families are warned they could lose coverage and congress is arguing over a permanent solution and arguing about the future of more than 700,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the u.s. as children. >> these kids have given their addresses to the government. they know where they are and they can be easily found. they worry th

there's a small technical fix in the children's health insurance program, the funding that expired on september 30 and this is just kicking it down theth road >> why do this now? >> congressional leaders have not agreed on how much to actually spend in fiscal 2018. they can't write the big spending bill until we get those numbers. this is giving two additional weeks so that we can try to iron out negotiations on the hill, congressional leaders can keep meeting, try to come up with the best spending record >> let's focus on the house inet the wall at the senate. republicans all on board for this measure yesterday. democrats all opposed it. what are republicans, what are the different factions. they supported this yesterday butay will they supported longer-term? >> this is probably the only time we will see so many house republicans vote for the same spending bill for the rest of the year. this is a significant achievement for republicans in the house.y r r republicans have not traditionally been able to pass the spending bills with only their own members.s republican leadership has alm

have to shut down because they can't plan for an insurance program which is not a month to month program. >> you're talking about the children's health insurance program, for 9 million children across this country -- >> as you pointed out are in between medicaid and so they don't get help there and they need help. >> this was a bipartisan effort. it ran out of funding at the end of september. 16 states will have no money for this come the end of next month. 20 more states tack on to that with no funding for this a few months later. are you willing to vote against a spending bill at some point that does not fully fund c.h.i.p. again? are you willing to say that is my stake in the ground and this is what has to be funded. >> that certainly is a stake in the ground. sure c.h.i.p. can operate for 9 million children we have a bill passed twice which we have made clear it's a partisan bill. we were close to making a deal but they wouldn't make a deal without cutting further in the affordable care act which cut health care for children, cut vaccination programs for children, other pranograms for children. we didn't think that was payiet to