Washington, DC -- U.S. Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today joined a bicameral, bipartisan press conference to introduce a measure extending coverage to uninsured families.  Brown, the top Democrat on the Health and Environment Subcommittee, is an original cosponsor of the FamilyCare Act of 2000, which uses existing programs to give uninsured Americans access to safe, affordable health care.

    "This bill is a common sense step in the right direction.  We need to do something about the staggering, destabilizing and ever-increasing insurance gap in this country.  The first step is to create realistic coverage options for low income working families," Brown said.

    More than 44 million Americans lack health insurance coverage.  The uninsured are predominantly workers and their families.  Health insurance is out of the reach for more than 40 percent of workers supporting a family of three on less than $28,300 a year.  More than three-quarters of uninsured children come from working families.

    "These families have no place to turn for help.  Often they work for employers who do not offer coverage, or they are ineligible for coverage, or they simply can't afford it.  In more than two-thirds of states, a parent working full time at minimum wage does not qualify for health insurance through Medicaid.  And it's only getting worse," Brown said.

    The FamilyCare Act of 2000 would provide new federal funding, incentives, and authority for states to expand health insurance coverage to parents of children enrolled in Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), children up to age 21, legal immigrant children, pregnant women, and welfare to work participants.

    Brown noted the legislation will also reach out to children who qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, but are not enrolled.  The bill will provide states new options for outreach, streamline enrollment procedures, and coordinate services.  The FamilyCare Act would increase coverage for workers in small businesses by providing grant money for states to pursue innovative approaches to expand coverage through small businesses.

    "The insurance gap is a drain on this nation's capabilities.  It undercuts our public health goals.  It strains our health care system.  Most importantly, it compromises the potential for 44 million Americans to lead longer, healthier, and more productive lives. We are a world leader.  We are a wealthy nation.  The widening coverage gap is inconsistent and unjustifiable.  We can do better," Brown said.

    Brown joined Reps. John Dingell (D-MI), Pete Stark (D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA), John D. Rockefeller (D-WV), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), James Jeffords (R-VT), and Olympia Snowe (R-ME).