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Press Release: President Signs SCHIP Re-authorization. State Children’s Health Insurance Program will help 11 million low-income children. February 4, 2009 For more information contact: Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) President Rosa Rosales and National Executive Director Brent Wilkes were at the White House today for the signing of a $32.8 billion package to provide health coverage for millions of children across the country. “According to the most recent estimates from the Census Bureau, 8.6 million children in the United States lack health coverage and 38% of those kids are Latino," said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. "This legislation would expand coverage to approximately 4 million children." Set to expire March 31, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) re-authorization legislation provides funding to states for comprehensive health care coverage of low-income children and pregnant women. The legislation expands the program to include 4.1 million more low-income children over four and a half years. Funding will come from an increase in the federal tobacco tax, which is expected to generate $31.3 billion in the next four years. The League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest and largest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic conditions, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide. # # # |