Donald Trump

Holding His Son, Jimmy Kimmel Pleads for Children's Health Care Funding

The late-night host urged Congress to restore the Children's Health Insurance Program, which has been left unfunded and stuck in a political stalemate

Jimmy Kimmel held his baby son as he returned to his late-night show after a week off for the boy's heart surgery.

Kimmel was crying from the first moment of his monologue Monday night as he pleaded with Congress to restore and improve children's health coverage, a cause he has championed since his son Billy was born with a heart defect in April.

Billy needed one surgery just after his birth and had a follow-up operation last week.

Kimmel kept up his ardent advocacy Monday night, urging Congress to restore the $14 billion Children's Health Insurance Program, which has been left unfunded and stuck in a political stalemate since September.

Since then, some states have relied on unspent funds. Others got a short-term reprieve in the two-week spending bill President Donald Trump signed Friday.

Kimmel said it's "disgusting" that Congress is putting tax cuts for millionaires ahead of the lives of children.

Twelve governors of both parties on Tuesday urged Congress to reauthorize CHIP funding as soon as possible, saying funding the program "without disruption" is something they can all agree on.

Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper led the letter-writing effort. It was joined by the governors of Alaska, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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