"Health care in this nation is in a crisis," said House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler (D-Hoquiam). "These bills are about children. We cannot keep talking and talking and talking and finding excuses about why we can't do it. What we can do, and must do, is move forward."

The House passed a series of bills that includes a bill that takes a big step to covering all kids by 2010, a comprehensive proposal to build a children's mental health system during the next five years, legislation to keep foster kids from losing health care coverage when they turn 18, and a call to Congress to reauthorize funding for children's health care.

"I stand today for the 73,000 children in Washington who don't have health care coverage," said Clibborn from the House floor. "If you do the math, it’s 744 children without health care for each lawmaker in the House of Representatives. Some people believe that number is too high. I disagree. I believe that number should not exist. I believe each of us has 744 reasons back home to vote yes today."

"We have a children's mental health system in Washington State that is broken. It fails to focus on appropriate treatment and it's not really a system at all," commented Dickerson. "This bill is geared toward getting children the treatment they need so they don't end up in our juvenile justice system, they don't end up in special education classes, and they don't end up in our emergency rooms. This legislation will mend the children's broken mental health system."

"These youth end up with serious health problems when they don't have a backup," said Roberts. "These are the youth that show up in our emergency rooms because they lack primary care. In addition, some of these kids suffer from mental illness, and that can have a devastating impact if they don't get immediate care. Let's pass this important reform for these kids who are, in the truest sense of the word, 'our' kids in the state foster care system."

"The health of our children is not a partisan issue," Seaquist said. "Both the state and federal governments need to work as partners in efforts to make sure our children have the care they need. When a child is sick, parents need the peace of mind that comes with getting the proper treatment for that child. I hope that the federal government will lead by example and recognize that insuring every child is the right thing to do."

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For interviews, print-quality photos and other information:

Rep. Judy Clibborn: 360.786.7926, clibborn.judy@leg.wa.gov

Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson: 360.786.7860, dickerson.marylou@leg.wa.gov

Rep. Mary Helen Roberts: 360.786.7950, roberts.maryhelen@leg.wa.gov

Rep. Larry Seaquist: 360.786.7802, seaquist.larry@leg.wa.gov

Media Staff: Melinda McCrady, 360.786.7385, mccrady.melinda@leg.wa.gov