Washington - Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care Chairman Jay Rockefeller, Senate HELP Committee Chairman Ted Kennedy and Senators Stabenow, Menendez, Brown and Casey today called on the Senate to continue providing millions of our nation's children with the health care they desperately need by voting to extend the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). While the Bush Administration's 2008 Budget jeopardizes the health coverage of thousands of children by failing to adequately fund SCHIP, Senate Democrats are committed to extending and expanding this successful insurance program.

The Senate Democrats' plan provides up to $50 billion for the reauthorization of SCHIP, which far exceeds the insufficient funding proposed by the Bush Administration. These vital resources will not only maintain coverage for the millions of children already enrolled in the program, but will also expand health insurance to the six million children that are currently eligible for SCHIP or Medicaid benefits, yet not enrolled in the program.

"As the Chairman of the committee that will reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program, I said weeks ago that it would take about $50 billion to renew and expand health coverage for all kids eligible for this vital program. The Budget Committee responded and set the bar where it needs to be," said Senator Baucus. "In my home state of Montana, more than 13,000 kids depend on CHIP for their health coverage and care. We can reach many more children across this country, if we work together to fulfill the promise of the Children's Health Insurance Program."

"Ten years ago we made a promise to provide health care to one of our most vulnerable populations, our kids. The time has come to renew that commitment," Senator Rockefeller said. "Our budget proposal delivers peace of mind to the Moms and Dads across America, and puts Congress squarely on the record that our children must come first. One child without health insurance is one child too many. We have a moral obligation to take care of the needs of our children."

"When we passed CHIP a decade ago, we made a promise to working families that we would provide help with health coverage for their children," said Senator Kennedy. CHIP has been a great success, providing access to good health care for millions of children each year. Children who once were uninsured now can see a doctor to treat their earaches, their asthma, or their diabetes. CHIP can make the difference between a child burdened with disease - or a child who is healthy and ready to learn and grow."

"As lawmakers, we have a moral obligation to provide health care coverage for the millions of uninsured children in our nation," said Senator Stabenow. "Health care should be a right, not a privilege in America, and covering every child is an important step towards this goal. Our budget makes good on the Democratic promise to strengthen SCHIP and ensure that children have access to the health coverage they need."

"I simply find it embarrassing that some in Washington - those who have some of the best health care coverage in the world - would propose to cut coverage for America's neediest children," Senator Menendez said. "I am proud to stand with my colleagues in rejecting that terrible idea. We recognized that the Congress had a responsibility to fix the shortcomings of the president's budget to ensure that America's neediest children get the care and health coverage they need."

"In 1997 Republicans and Democrats united to establish the Children's Health Insurance program. In 2007, we should work together again to protect the progress we've made and reach the children who still lack health insurance. This budget provides the blueprint, and I hope once we adopt it our Republican colleagues will join us in building on our earlier work," said Senator Brown.

"In 1992, my father, Governor Robert P. Casey, signed into law the program that became the model for SCHIP at the federal level," said Senator Casey. "Encouraging progress to expand children's health insurance and not stifling SCHIP with inadequate funding and restrictions is one of the most vital issues facing the United States. In particular, we must resist efforts to restrict SCHIP to states like Pennsylvania that have expanded coverage to families earning more than 200% of poverty."

Millions of low-income Americans are currently insured by the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). This program has become an important vehicle for providing health coverage to uninsured children and it must be extended. With more than 46 million Americans without health insurance, Senate Democrats believe the Congress must act quickly to guarantee the critical health care coverage our youngest Americans deserve.

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