Page 12
September 27, 2017
New Prices
Effective
April 1, 2017
O PINION
Martin
Cleaning
Service
Carpet & Upholstery
Cleaning
Residential &
Commercial Services
Minimum Service CHG.
$50.00
A small distance/travel
charge may be applied
CARPET CLEANING
2 Cleaning Areas or more
$30.00 each Area
Pre-Spray Traffic Areas
(Includes: 1 small Hallway)
1 Cleaning Area (only)
$50.00
Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area
(Hallway Extra)
Stairs (12-16 stairs - With
Other Services) : $30.00
Area/Oriental Rugs:
$25.00 Minimum
Area/Oriental Rugs (Wool) :
$40.00 Minimum
Heavily Soiled Area:
$10.00 each area
(Requiring Extensive Pre-Spraying)
UPHOLSTERY
CLEANING
Sofa: $69.00
Loveseat: $49.00
Sectional: $109 - $139
Chair or Recliner:
$25.00 - $49.00
Throw Pillows (With
Other Services) : $5.00
ADDITIONAL
SERVICES
• Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning
• Deodorizing & Pet
Odor Treatment
• Spot & Stain
Removal Service
• Scotchguard Protection
• Minor Water Damage
Services
SEE CURRENT FLYER
FOR ADDITIONAL
PRICES & SERVICES
Call for Appointment
(503) 281-3949
Healthcare for Millions of Children at Stake
Congress must
act now to avoid
disruption
M aRian W Right
e delMan
On May 11, 1997
Sen. Ted Kennedy
(D-Mass.) began his
remarks at a Chil-
dren’s Defense Fund conference
with the lyrics from “Freedom’s
Light,” a song written by Sen.
Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), as the two
together announced historic leg-
islation that ultimately led to the
creation of the Children’s Health
Insurance Program (CHIP) which
has brought light, hope and health
care to nearly nine million low-in-
come children in the form of af-
fordable health insurance.
Thanks to their tireless biparti-
san work over many months, Ken-
nedy and Hatch got CHIP across
the finish line and it was signed
into law by President Clinton on
Aug. 5, 1997. I described it then
and now as one of the biggest ad-
vances for children in decades. It
was another historical moment
when politics were divisive and
broader efforts at health reform
had failed – but members of Con-
by
gress put children first and moved
forward.
It was CHIP’s bipartisan begin-
ning that set it on the path to suc-
cess. For 20 years CHIP has
been there, giving work-
ing families the security
of knowing their children
had access to high-quality,
child-appropriate
health
coverage they could afford.
CHIP has helped reduce the
number of uninsured children by
half, improved health outcomes
and access to care for children,
and helped reduce school absen-
teeism and improve children’s
readiness to learn.
Today CHIP is a lifeline for 8.9
million children living in families
who earn too much to qualify for
Medicaid but not enough to buy
private coverage. They are chil-
dren like Brandon, a Houston
six-year-old who needed CHIP
to help cover his treatments for
asthma and high blood pressure
after his father lost his job; or the
Philadelphia family who relied
on CHIP for their three young
children to see providers at the
Children’s Hospital of Philadel-
phia and the University of Penn-
sylvania Health System and for
routine needs like visits to a mo-
bile dental van; and others whose
stories we’ve shared over the
years. Together CHIP and Med-
icaid form the foundation of our
nation’s health care system for
children.
Now 20 years after CHIP put
an entire generation of children
on the path to a healthy adult-
hood, we stand at another pivotal
moment: unless Congress takes
action, funding for this essen-
tial, popular, highly successful
program will end after Sept. 30.
Without this funding, millions of
children could lose health cover-
age or pay more for less compre-
hensive coverage, leaving these
children significantly worse off
than they are today.
Senator Hatch is once again
leading the bipartisan charge to
extend CHIP funding this time
partnering with Sen. Ron Wyden
(D-Oregon). They convened a
Senate Finance Committee hear-
ing on Sept. 7 to discuss CHIP’s
future and lay the groundwork
for its urgent extension millions
of children need.
If funding is not forthcoming
quickly, states will have to take
actions that will create chaos in
program administration and con-
fusion for families trying to access
coverage for their children, in-
cluding establishing waiting lists
and sending out disenrollment
notices. Congress must act now to
avoid harmful disruption to chil-
dren’s health and well-being.
Any shorter term funding ex-
tension would not allow states to
invest in improvements to child
health or make responsible bud-
geting decisions. Advance plan-
ning is critical for all states, and
especially for those operating un-
der biennial budgets.
Congress must not play pol-
itics with the health of so many
millions of our children. Amidst
so much unrest and insecurity
in our country and instability in
our health care system facing an
opioid crisis and the aftermath of
damaging hurricanes afflicting
countless children, Congressional
leaders on both sides of the aisle
must step up together to ensure
a healthy start for the 46 million
children now helped by Medicaid
and CHIP.
Assuring children access to
needed health coverage to survive
and thrive is surely something we
can agree on and get done now.
Children should not be political
footballs for any politician or po-
litical party.
Marian Wright Edelman is
president of the Children’s De-
fense Fund.