Jimmy Kimmel returned to his ABC late-night show Monday night, and brought his son Billy out to join him.
"I was out last week, because this guy had heart surgery," Kimmel explained with a slight crack in his voice. "But look, he's fine, everybody! He might have pooped, but he's fine."
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View StoryBilly suffers from a congenital heart condition called tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia. It was thanks to the hard work of doctors at Children's Hospital that he was able to make a full recovery, so Kimmel used his platform to push for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to be funded.
"Congress, about 72 days ago, failed to approve funding for CHIP for the first time since it was created two decades ago," he said. "This is literally a life and death program for American kids. It's always had bi-partisan support, but this year they let the money for it expire while they work on getting tax cuts for their millionaire and billionaire donors."
Clearly angry about the ongoing situation, Kimmel went on. "I don't know about you, but I've had enough of this. 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."
He urged his viewers to call their congressmen to #FundCHIPNow.
As for Billy, he has one more surgery ahead of him, but "he's doing great," as his proud papa put it. "He had an operation a week ago," Kimmel added. "They say he's probably on track to win at least a bronze medal in the Olympics in 2036."