January 13,2009

A History Of 2007 Efforts To Renew And Improve The Children’s Health Insurance Program

Working to Keep America's Kids Healthy

Since 1997, the Children’s Health Insurance Program has provided health coverage to millions of children of working parents who don’t qualify for Medicaid, but who can’t afford private health insurance. In 2007, Congress launched a robust effort to renew and improve the program, twice passing legislation to preserve coverage for the 6.6 million children enrolled that year and to provide CHIP coverage to an additional 3.3 million kids. However, President George W. Bush twice vetoed legislation to expand the Children’s Health Program – necessitating a temporary extension and a full reauthorization effort in 2009. A history of 2007 efforts to renew and improve the Children’s Health Insurance Program follows here.

February 1, 2007 – Finance Committee Chairman Baucus named the Children’s Health Insurance Program his number one health priority for the year, and said he would work to craft a bill with broad support.

July 17, 2007 – Senators Baucus, Grassley, Rockefeller, and Hatch unveiled a $35 billion agreement to renew and improve the Children’s Health Insurance Program for five years.

July 19, 2007 – The Senate Finance Committee approved the bipartisan plan by a vote of 17 to 4.

August 1, 2007 – The House of Representatives voted to renew and improve the Children’s Health Insurance program as part of the Children's Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act, 225 to 204.

August 2, 2007 – The Senate passed the Finance-approved Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2007 (S. 1893) by a vote of 68 to 31.

September 21, 2007 - A bipartisan coalition of Senate and House leaders announced a bicameral agreement on Children’s Health Insurance Program legislation.

September 25, 2007 – The House of Representatives passed the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act – the bicameral compromise legislation (HR 976) – by a vote of 265 to 159.

October 3, 2007 – President Bush vetoed the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (HR 976).October 17, 2007 – The House of Representatives did not override the President’s veto with a vote of 273 to 156. Bipartisan, bicameral negotiations on a further compromise began.

October 25, 2007 – The House of Representatives passed a further bipartisan compromise to renew and improve the Children’s Health Insurance Program (HR 3963) by a vote of 265 to 142.

November 1, 2007 – The Senate passed the bipartisan Children’s Health Insurance Program compromise bill (HR 3963) by a vote of 64 to 30.

December 12, 2007 – President Bush vetoed the second bipartisan compromise bill reauthorizing the Children’s Health Insurance Program (HR 3963).

December 18, 2007 – The Senate passed legislation (S. 2499) to extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program through March 31, 2009, ensuring funds to maintain current enrollment.

December 19, 2007 – The House of Representatives also passed the legislation to extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program (S. 2499). President Bush later signed this bill.

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