President Signs Bill to Reopen Government and Protect Montana Kids

Press Release

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed legislation that ends the government shutdown and provides a six-year reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which 24,000 Montana kids depend upon. The legislation will keep the government funded until February 8th.

"After several days of a pointless Democrat-led shutdown, the families of the 24,000 Montana children who depend on children's health insurance can finally have certainty their kids will continue to have access to health care," said Daines.

Background:

On January 22, Daines and 81 Senators voted to reopen the government and reauthorize the children's health insurance program for six years.

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-led 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

Cascade -- 1,325 children

Source