Max Baucus: “The Senate shall make the enactment of legislation to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)…”

“The Senate shall make the enactment of legislation to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) its top health priority for the remainder of fiscal year 2007, during the first session of the 110th Congress. Extending health care coverage to the Nation's uninsured children is an urgent priority for the Senate. SCHIP has proven itself a successful program for covering previously uninsured children. More than 6 million children are enrolled in this landmark program, which has enjoyed broad bipartisan support in Congress, among our Nation's governors, and within state and local governments. SCHIP reduces the percentage of children with unmet health care needs. Since SCHIP was created, enormous progress has been made in reducing disparities in children's coverage rates. Uninsured children who gain coverage through SCHIP receive more preventive care and their parents report better access to providers and improved communications with their children's doctors.”