Dick Durbin: “Over 25 years ago, a member of the Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health said in a statement to Congress…”

“Over 25 years ago, a member of the Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health said in a statement to Congress, ``Children are one-third of our population and all of our future.'' We must protect the health and welfare of our nation's children if we are to secure the future of our country. This year we have a tremendous opportunity to ensure that security. With the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, SCHIP, we can improve the health and health care of our Nation's future, for the over 70 million children in America and, in particular, the 9 million children who have no health coverage. Since the creation of SCHIP 10 years ago, more than 6.2 million children have been covered by this vital program, including over 290,000 children in Illinois.”