On February 4, 2009, Congress approved and the President signed into law bipartisan legislation I cosponsored to provide health care to 11 million children in low and moderate income families. After three years of fighting for this legislation, I am very pleased that President Obama has signed this measure to provide health care coverage for 11 million children throughout the nation. Previously, Congress had approved and President Bush had twice vetoed the legislation. Providing health coverage for America’s children is the change America needs.

No child in Southwest Virginia, or anywhere in our nation for that matter, should ever go without medical care. The measure signed into law last week will help expand access to healthcare including dental care for 11 million children, reduce the much more costly use of emergency rooms for primary care, and move us closer to providing every child in our nation with affordable, high-quality health care.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was created in 1997 to provide health care coverage for children in families that earn too little to afford health insurance for their children themselves but too much to qualify for Medicaid. The new law will give states the resources and incentives necessary to cover millions of uninsured children who are currently eligible for, but not enrolled in, CHIP and Medicaid.

The bipartisan measure had a broad range of support. It has been endorsed by dozens of organizations, representing millions of Americans – ranging from business groups such as the National Federation of Independent Businesses and Business Roundtable to the American Hospital Association to such groups as AARP and Families USA.

The measure reauthorizes the Children’s Health Insurance Program through 2013, and it preserves the coverage for all 7.1 million children currently covered by CHIP. In Virginia, approximately 90,000 children are currently covered by SCHIP. The new law provides coverage for 4.1 million uninsured children who are currently eligible for, but not enrolled in, CHIP and Medicaid. In Virginia, the new law could provide coverage to 20,000 children.

The measure is fully paid for by raising the tobacco tax by 62 cents. Raising the tobacco tax also promotes children’s health by discouraging children from smoking. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a 62-cent increase in the tobacco tax means that nearly 1.9 million fewer children will take up smoking.

A healthy child is better prepared for learning and success, and I am pleased that Congress has approved and President Obama has signed this measure into law expanding access to healthcare to more of our region’s children.

Rick Boucher is Congressman for the 9th District of Virginia, which includes the New River Valley. You can catch his Capitol Commentary regularly at the New River Voice.