The Senate Finance Committee on July 19, 2007, approved "The Children’s Health Reauthorization Act of 2007" by a vote of 17-4.

This legislation would reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for five years, and would provide $35 billion in new funding for SCHIP in addition to the $25 billion that exists currently in the budget baseline.

SCHIP would cover 3.3 million more uninsured children and continue coverage for the 6.6 million children enrolled currently. The bill is paid for by an increase in the federal tax on cigarettes and other tobacco product.

Visit www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/17828.html to learn about the American Medical Association’s efforts to promote SCHIP.