Jimmy Kimmel just made an emotional plea for congress to fund children’s health insurance

“CHIP is the Children’s Health Insurance Program.”

“It is around-It covers around 9 million American kids whose parents make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but don’t have access to affordable coverage through their jobs, which means it almost certainly covers children you know.”

Kimmel has been an advocate for affordable healthcare since his son was born with a congenital heart defect.

“About 1 in 8 children are covered only by CHIP.”

“And it’s not controversial. It’s not a partisan thing, overwhelmingly, democrats and republicans supported it until now.”

“Now, CHIP has become a bargaining chip.”

“It’s on the back-burner while they work out their new tax plans, which means parents of children with cancer, and diabetes, and heart problems are about to get letters saying their coverage could be cut off next month.”

“Merry Christmas, right?”

Now, he’s urging his viewers to call their representatives and tell them to fund CHIP immediately.

“About 2 million CHIP kids have serious chronic conditions.”

“I don’t know what could be more disgusting than putting a tax cut that mostly goes to rich people ahead of the lives of children.”

“Why hasn’t CHIP been funded already?”

“If these were potato chips they were taking away from us, we would be marching on Washington with pitchforks and spears right now.”

“So, once again I’m asking you, Billy’s asking you to make two phone calls you shouldn’t have to make.”

“Jam the House and Senate phones tonight, tomorrow, tell them to take a break from tax cuts for a minute and fully fund CHIP immediately.”

“Call your representatives in the House and Senate at this number.”

“Leave messages for both of them.”

“Don’t let them keep pushing it off.”

“They need to fund CHIP now.”