Susan Collins: “one of the first bills that I sponsored when I came to the Senate 10 years ago was the legislation that established the…”

“one of the first bills that I sponsored when I came to the Senate 10 years ago was the legislation that established the State Child Health Insurance Program--or SCHIP--which provides health care coverage for children of low-income working parents who cannot afford health insurance yet make too much money to qualify for Medicaid. Since 1997, SCHIP has contributed to a one-third decline in the uninsured rate of low-income children. Today, over 6 million children-- including 14,500 in Maine--receive health care coverage from this remarkably effective health care program. According to a recent assessment by the nonpartisan Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, ``While the coverage news for the nation is generally bleak, the story for children's health coverage stands apart. Of all the health reform efforts, covering children has been resoundingly successful. Since its creation, SCHIP has partnered with Medicaid to help ensure that children have the health care that they need.'' Still, there is more that we can do.”