SCHIP is an historic, bipartisan bill that will provide low-income, uninsured children access to health care. And, unlike the original Republican version which used borrowed money, the funds for this program are provided by a 61 cent increase to the cigarette tax.  Not only will our children get the health care they deserve, but they will not be burdened with an ever increasing national debt.
 
The bill will:

• Add $35 billion to the program over the next five years to cover approximately 10 million children: 6.6 million children who are currently enrolled and 4 million additional children who will be uninsured without this bill.
• Help avoid funding shortfalls that prevent children from receiving coverage by improving allocation to the states.
• Give states new tools to conduct outreach to enroll eligible uninsured children.
• Strengthen the CHIP benefit package by guaranteeing dental health and mental health benefits.