Republicans fled town and abandoned their responsibilities to reauthorize funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and community health centers, which expires across the nation tomorrow. Thousands of children, pregnant women, and low-income workers and families in Virginia, and millions nationwide, depend on these critical programs for health insurance and care. Without this essential funding, 192,831 Virginia children enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program could be at risk of losing coverage. And, Virginia could lose $64,809,000 in funding for its 26 community health centers, forcing many to close their doors.

“Republicans were so busy trying to force a sham repeal of the Affordable Care Act through the Senate that would strip health care away from millions, that they dropped the ball on renewing funding for CHIP and community health centers, programs critical to thousands of Virginians’ access to health care, including 192,831 Virginia children,” said DNC Spokesperson Elizabeth Renda. “Virginia’s Republican Representatives must immediately take bipartisan action to protect these programs and the thousands of Virginia families who depend on them.”