Published: August 06, 2007 05:38 pm      

Child healthcare bill passes House

A bill increasing State Children’s Healthcare Program, or SCHIP, enrollment from six to 11 million children passed the U.S. House on Wednesday.

“This is a pro-family and pro-work bill that will provide health coverage to 11 million children of working families,” said U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco. “This program is especially important for Texas families since our state has the highest percentage of children without health care coverage in the nation.”

House members passed the bill by a 225-204 vote despite a veto threat from President Bush. The program, created in 1997, must be reauthorized by Congress by Sept. 30. SCHIP provides coverage to children of working families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but cannot afford private insurance.

The bill also increases the federal cigarette tax by 45 cents to increase SCHIP coverage for children.

“Encouraging Americans to quit smoking is a small price to pay to protect their health and provide health care coverage for five million uninsured children,” Edwards said.