Deborah Reynolds

Contact: Senator Deborah Reynolds

603) 271-3569

PLYMOUTH - Senator Deborah Reynolds (D-Plymouth) welcomed Governor John Lynch on a visit to the Whole Village Family Resource Center today, where she pledged to work with him to expand children's access to health insurance.

"I am very pleased that Governor Lynch has been able to visit this great facility in District 2 that has helped so many children and families," said Reynolds, who serves on the board of directors for the Whole Village Family Resource Center.

Reynolds joined the governor on his visit to the center to highlight their shared commitment to the expansion of New Hampshire's Healthy Kids program. The Legislature voted this year to expand the successful program to cover 10,000 additional eligible children but actions by the Bush administration have created new and onerous restrictions.

"Healthy Kids is a New Hampshire program and New Hampshire should be allowed to set its own priorities for covering its children," Reynolds said. Lawmakers, including Lynch, are urging President Bush and congressional leaders to undo the new restrictions so states have the freedom to operate their children's health insurance programs as they see fit.

"We all recognize that solving the health insurance coverage issue is among the state's top priorities. I will continue to work with Governor Lynch to expand affordable health for our families and children", Senator Reynolds said.

Reynolds also supported the new law that expanded health insurance coverage for young adults through age 25 who remain as dependents, and to allow for the continuance of family health insurance coverage for divorced couples.

Reynolds' districts includes Alexandria, Ashland, Bath, Benton, Bridgewater, Bristol, Campton, Canaan, Center Harbor, Dorchester, Easton, Ellsworth, Groton, Haverhill, Hebron, Holderness, Landaff, Lyme, Meredith, Monroe, New Hampton, Orange, Orford, Piermont, Plymouth, Rumney, Sanbornton, Thornton, Warren, Wentworth and Woodstock.