WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (NJ-07) today voted to send to President Obama legislation that would renew and improve the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

The measure, which is similar to legislation Lance supported last month, was approved by the House 290-135. Lance was one of only 40 Republican lawmakers who supported the measure. The bill now heads to the president for his signature.

“SCHIP is such an important health care program for New Jersey children,” Lance said. “I am very pleased that Congress and the President were able to work together to continue this important health care program that helps more than 120,000 New Jersey children. Because our state has the second highest cost of living in nation, SCHIP is very important to those working families struggling with the high costs of healthcare. It’s especially important to children whose parents either don’t have insurance through their employers or whose parents may have recently lost their jobs because of the current economic downturn.”

According to NJ FamilyCare, which administers in the program in New Jersey, SCHIP enrollment totaled 821children in Hunterdon County, 12,156 children in Middlesex County, 3,171 children in Somerset County and 10,438 children in Union County. Lance’s Seventh Congressional District includes portions of those four counties.

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