Daines Votes to keep Government Open and Protect 24,000 Montana Children

Press Release

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted to protect vital health care services for 24,000 Montana children provided under the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and to avoid a government shutdown.

"It's ridiculous that we are on the verge of a government shutdown over controversial immigration legislation," said Daines. "We have a funding bill that will keep the government open and reauthorize CHIP for six years, which impacts 24,000 kids in Montana. Now is not the time to back down. I hope my colleagues will join me and vote to keep the government open and fund CHIP."

Today's majority vote allowed for the funding bill passed by the U.S. House to be considered in the Senate.

The Senate is expected to vote tomorrow to end debate on the funding bill, which will take 60 votes to do. If the Senate meets the 60-vote threshold, a final vote on passage of the funding bill would follow.

Background:

Today, Daines spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate, urging his colleagues to support long-term CHIP reauthorization.

While on the Senate floor, Daines read a story about Jaxon, a boy from Helena, MT who receives life-saving care from CHIP to treat his Leigh syndrome.

CHIP provides vital health services for over eight million children and 370,000 pregnant women across the United States each year.

Since CHIP's creation, the number of uninsured children has fallen by one-third. Today, the number of uninsured children is the lowest on record.

Montana counties with the highest number of children enrolled in CHIP:

1. Yellowstone -- 3,288 children

2. Flathead -- 2,950 children

3. Gallatin -- 2,765 children

4. Missoula -- 2,284 children

5. Cascade -- 1,325 children

Source