Senate Votes to End Government Shutdown

Press Release

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today voted to end the government shutdown and reauthorize a critical children's health care program. The bill passed with 81 votes -- only 18 Senators voted no. The bill includes a six-year reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which 24,000 Montana kids depend upon, and will keep the government open until February 8th. The U.S. House of Representatives will now vote on the bill and if it passes, the bill will move to the President's desk to be signed into law.

"This afternoon most Senate Democrats joined Republicans to end the government shutdown while also providing access to health care for 24,000 Montana kids," said Daines. "It was pointless to shut the government down."

Background:

On January 22, Daines voted to end the filibuster, allowing for the government shutdown to come to an end.

On January 20, Daines spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate to highlight the reason behind the Senate Democrat shutdown of the government.

On January 19, Daines voted to fund the government, but Senate Democrats shutdown the government.

On January 19, Daines called on his colleagues to protect Montana children.

On January 18, Daines spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate, urging his colleagues to support long-term CHIP reauthorization.

On April 14, 2015, Daines supported the reauthorization of CHIP.

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:

Yellowstone -- 3,288 children

Flathead -- 2,950 children

Gallatin -- 2,765 children

Missoula -- 2,284 children

Source