SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 416 Offered January 12, 2007 Memorializing the Virginia Congressional Delegation and the Governor to urge Congress to timely reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to ensure federal funding for FAMIS. ---------- Patron-- Martin ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, the Virginia General Assembly regards threats to the health of our children to be a largely avoidable cause of hardship and suffering to families in our Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia General Assembly regards such threats as an impediment to the educational achievement and the social and psychological well-being of the children of our Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia General Assembly considers protecting the health of our children to be essential to the economic stability and quality of life in our Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia General Assembly considers the FAMIS program to be an integral part of the arrangements for health benefits for the children of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia General Assembly considers the federal funding available for the FAMIS program to be indispensable to providing subsidized health benefits for children of modest means; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly memorialize the Virginia Congressional Delegation and the Governor to urge Congress to timely reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to ensure federal funding for FAMIS; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Virginia General Assembly proclaim that all components of state government should work together with educators, health care providers, social workers, and parents to ensure that all available public and private assistance for providing health benefits to uninsured children in the Commonwealth be used to the maximum extent possible; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Virginia General Assembly urge the Virginia Congressional Delegation and the Governor to use their best efforts to provide meaningful assistance to help identify and enroll children who qualify for Medicaid or the FAMIS program; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the Virginia Congressional Delegation and the Governor so that they may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter.