October 1, 2007

House approves State Children's Health Insurance Program legislation, Bush likely to veto

House approves State Children's Health Insurance Program legislation, Bush likely to veto
The House voted 265-159 on September 25 to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), short of the necessary support to override a veto promised by President Bush. The legislation (H.R. 976) authorizes a $35 billion expansion of SCHIP to provide health care coverage for some 6.6 million children currently enrolled in the program plus an additional 3.8 million by 2012.

The Senate was expected to take up the bill as soon as September 26, just four days before the program was set to expire on September 30. H.R. 976 is the result of weeks-long negotiations between both chambers. The Senate bill provided $35 billion for SCHIP expansion and passed by a veto-proof 68-31 margin.

In light of the veto threat, both the House and the Senate have added an SCHIP extension that funds the program until November 16. That measure is expected to be approved by Congress by the end of the week. It is expected that Congress will work to compromise with the president in that time to establish a long-term reauthorization.