Ellison Backs Bill to Provide Health Care for 11 Million More American Children

Press Release

Ellison Backs Bill to Provide Health Care for 11 Million More American Children

Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) joined a majority in the House of Representatives in support of legislation providing health care to 11 million more children in modest-income American families. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act was approved by a vote of 290 - 135. Passage by the U.S. House of Representatives today sends the bill to President Obama for his signature.

"After three years of Democrats fighting for this bill, I am pleased that our new President will be signing this essential legislation to provide a health care safety net for 11 million American children," stated Congressman Ellison. This is the same legislation that President Bush vetoed twice in the last Congress.

"No child in Minnesota or anywhere in America should ever go without needed medical care," said Rep. Ellison. "Improving the health and welfare of 32,000 more Minnesota children is one of the more rewarding aspects of my job as your Congressman. If we can start these kids out with healthy bodies and minds, they have a better chance at becoming productive American citizens. A healthy child is better prepared for learning and success," Ellison stated.

The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was created in 1997 to provide health care coverage for children in families that earn too little to afford health insurance for their children themselves but too much to qualify for Medicaid.

The bill is fully paid for by increasing the tobacco tax 62 cents. Raising the tobacco tax also promotes children's health - by discouraging children from smoking. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a 62-cent increase in the tobacco tax means that nearly 1.9 million fewer children will take up smoking.

"Covering more eligible children is not only the right thing to do - it makes good economic sense for taxpayers who will no longer have to foot the bill for costlier problems down the road," Congressman Ellison said. "Providing health care to children will reduce the use of emergency rooms for primary care, and move us closer to providing every child in our nation with affordable, high-quality health care," Ellison stated.

"With rising unemployment, this children's health bill is more critical than ever," concluded Rep. Ellison. "In this recession, more and more American parents are losing employer-sponsored health care for their children. The need for this legislation is growing every day."

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