House Passes New Bipartisan Children's Health Insurance Program Bill

HOUSE PASSES NEW BIPARTISAN
CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM BILL

Washington, D.C.–U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, joined a bipartisan majority today to support H.R. 3963, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2007. The bipartisan bill, which passed the House today by a vote of 265 to 142, would provide 10 million children with health care over the next 5 years. The bill now awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate.

"Today, the Democratic-led Congress delivered on its promise to provide 10 million uninsured American children with health care... said U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). "Instead of backing down after the veto override failed, the House Democratic leadership stood its ground and insisted that the bill still cover 10 million children....

The bipartisan agreement ensures that low-income children are enrolled first by prohibiting states from receiving CHIP funding for children in families with incomes over $51,510 (300% of poverty). Under the agreement, illegal immigrants are not eligible to receive health care under CHIP. The bill also phases out adults within a year.

Like the previous bill, this legislation reauthorizes the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for five years and preserves coverage for all 6.6 million children currently covered by CHIP and it maintains coverage for nearly 300,000 children in Illinois. The bill also extends health care coverage to 3.8 million additional low-income children, who are currently uninsured, including extending coverage to over 150,000 uninsured children in Illinois.

On October 2, 2007, President Bush vetoed H.R. 976, the Children's Health Insurance Program bill. The original bipartisan bill overwhelmingly passed both the House and Senate on September 25, 2007. Last week, the Democratic-led Congress fell 15 votes short of overriding the President's veto. Yesterday, the House Democratic Leadership reached out to House Republicans to address their concerns on the previous bill in order to reach a compromise.