By Ainsley Holyfield, Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson WASHINGTON, D.D. - The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation Jan. 18 to continue funding the federal government, maintain critical military operations and provide a long-term re-authorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that covers nearly 9 million children across the country and over 161,000 in Louisiana. Reps. Ralph Abraham, M.D. (La.-05), Garret Graves (La.-06), Clay Higgins (La.-03), Mike Johnson (La.-04) and Majority Whip Steve Scalise (La.-01) released the following statement after voting in support of this legislation: “The House did its job yesterday and voted to fund our government, providing critical funding for our military and ensuring the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has long-term funding so our most vulnerable children can continue to receive the health care they need. Now, the only thing standing in the way of funding for our troops and our children are Senate Democrats playing dangerous political games. The time has come for Senate Democrats to decide if they are going to put shutting down the government to force immediate amnesty for illegal immigrants over providing health care for nearly 9 million … [Read more...]