In one of his first votes as a member of the 111th Congress, Representative Kurt Schrader (D-OR) joined a bipartisan majority of members in support of legislation to provide health care to 11 million children in low-income, working and poor families. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act was approved by a vote of 289-139.
In one of his first votes as a member of the 111th Congress, Representative Kurt Schrader (D-OR) joined a bipartisan majority of members in support of legislation to provide health care to 11 million children in low-income, working and poor families. The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act was approved by a vote of 289-139.
“Every day millions of children go without basic health care,” said Schrader. “This legislation is critically important to over 63,000 Oregon children who currently benefit from the program and the thousands more who are eligible. I’m also proud of Congress’ continued commitment to the principals of fiscal responsibility. This legislation is fully offset, adds no additional debt to the federal deficit and includes quality health care measures for our children.”
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 but too much to qualify for Medicaid. Today’s bill would provide health coverage for an additional 4 million low-income children who are currently uninsured and would ensure that the 7 million children, currently covered by SCHIP, continue to receive health coverage.
The new bill would also provide quality dental coverage to all children enrolled in SCHIP. Coverage under SCHIP would also include mental health services to be provided on par with medical and surgical benefits covered under SCHIP. The bill now goes to the United States Senate for its consideration.
