Bipartisan Push to Restore Children’s Health Insurance Funding Has McCaskill’s Backing

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- The office of Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., issued the following news release:

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is backing a bipartisan push to restore and extend funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which covers nearly 80,000 Missouri children and expired on September 30. The bipartisan legislation would extend CHIP funding for five years.

"CHIP ensures kids can see a doctor when they're sick and get the medicine they need to get better--and it's been a life-saver for so many Missouri families," McCaskill said. "It's discouraging and risky that Congressional leaders let this program expire, but given its strong support from both sides of the aisle, I hope we can quickly right this wrong."

Earlier this month, McCaskill voted to approve the renewal of funding for CHIP in the Senate Finance Committee, which passed with strong bipartisan support.

McCaskill is a longtime supporter of the CHIP program, and has consistently voted to renew its funding. Passed in 1997 and reauthorized with strong bipartisan support in 2007, 2009, and 2015 CHIP provides comprehensive health insurance to millions of children in families with incomes too low to afford private insurance.

Visit mccaskill.senate.gov/healthcare to learn more about McCaskill's fight to improve healthcare for Missourians.