Titus Hails Passage of SCHIP Bill to Provide Health Care for 11 Million Children

Press Release

The House of Representatives passed today with overwhelming bipartisan support the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization bill to continue providing health care coverage for 7 million children and expand coverage to an addition 4 million children. Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada's Third District, who sponsored the legislation in the State Senate to create Nevada's Check-Up program, hailed the passage of the SCHIP legislation as a critical step during these tough economic times.

"Our nation's economic crisis has hit Nevadans hard. As families struggle to make ends meet due to rising health care costs and growing unemployment, the need for this legislation is greater than ever for Nevada's children who are falling through the cracks," Congresswoman Titus said. "With new leadership in the White House, we can finally enact this bill into law and ensure that Nevada's children receive the health care they need to grow up healthy and strong."

SCHIP was created in 1997 to provide health care coverage for children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private insurance. Currently, more than 41,800 children in Nevada receive health care through SCHIP. This legislation will also provide states with the resources to cover millions of uninsured children who are eligible but not enrolled in the program.

The House and Senate passed similar legislation last year but it was vetoed twice by President Bush in the 110th Congress.

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