House Passes Compromise SCHIP Bill

Press Release

House Passes Compromise SCHIP Bill

The House of Representatives today passed (265-142) H.R. 3963 to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP, or BadgerCare in Wisconsin) and provide health care for 10 million children. Earlier in the month the President vetoed an SCHIP bill approved by a majority of both Houses of Congress, and Democrats have reached out to Republicans to craft this legislation in hopes that the President will sign this bipartisan compromise into law.

"I'm proud that Democrats are seeking compromises that will guarantee health care coverage for children in Wisconsin and across the country," said Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin who supported the original SCHIP bill and voted for the compromise today. "We cannot allow partisan politics to interfere with our duty to protect America's children," Baldwin said.

In the earlier version of the bill, vetoed by the President, some House Republicans wrongly claimed that the bipartisan SCHIP legislation provided health care for illegal immigrants, adults and children from high-income families. The latest version of the SCHIP legislation includes clarifications that address each of these concerns, while continuing to provide coverage to 10 million children.

This compromise bill differs from the original version in that it:

* phases out coverage of childless adults after one year;
* permits states to only receive federal funding for children covered in SCHIP with family incomes up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level;
* clarifies that states will not receive federal funding for non-citizens.

Democrats remain steadfast in their desire to enact a law that allows health care coverage for 10 million children in need. The SCHIP short-term extension expires on November 16, 2007.

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