McCollum Votes to Expand Healthcare to 4 Million Kids U.S. House Overwhelmingly Passes SCHIP

Press Release

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) voted for the Children's Health

Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2), which the House passed by a margin of 289-139. The bill reauthorizes the program through FY 2013 and preserves the coverage for all 7.1 million children currently covered by SCHIP, including 5,408 children in Minnesota.

"Every child in America should have the right to healthcare. Expanding SCHIP will expand access at a time when too many American families are losing employer-sponsored health care," Congresswoman McCollum said.

The bill will make coverage available to 4.1 million additional low-income, uninsured children, covering a total of 11 million, and is likely to be one of the first signed into law by President Barack Obama. Last year, President Bush made good on his promise to veto the vital health legislation that was passed by both chambers of Congress.

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. This legislation will give states the resources and incentives necessary to reach and cover millions of uninsured children who are currently eligible, but not enrolled.

"Expanding SCHIP is an important step forward but we still must keep fight to make healthcare available and affordable for all Minnesotans," McCollum added.

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