February 4, 2009
For Immediate Release

SCHRADER BACKS FINAL PASSAGE OF BIPARTISAN BILL TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR 11 MILLION CHILDREN

This Legislation is Estimated to Provide Nearly 43,000 Uninsured Oregonians with Health Care Coverage

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR) today joined a majority in the House of Representatives in support of the final version of bipartisan legislation to provide health care to 11 million children in low to middle-income families.  The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act was approved by a vote of 290-135.  President Obama will sign the bill later this afternoon.

“Thanks to our actions today, nearly 43,000 Oregon children are now eligible for health care coverage,” said Schrader. “With one vote, we have decreased the number of uninsured children in our state by 40%; and it couldn’t have come a moment too soon. This is the sort of real world progress I came to Congress to make and I’m proud to say to thousands of Oregon parents in desperate need of health care for their children that help is on the way.”

This bipartisan bill reauthorizes SCHIP through 2013.  It preserves coverage for all 7.1 million children currently covered by SCHIP, including 63,000 Oregon children. It also provides coverage for an additional 4.1 million uninsured children who are not enrolled in, SCHIP and Medicaid, including nearly 42,700 Oregon children. This legislation is fully offset, adds no additional debt to the federal deficit, and includes quality health care measures.