The Senate approved legislation on 29 January to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Programme (SCHIP).

The programme will be funded by raising federal cigarette taxes from USD 0.39 (EUR 0.30) a pack to USD 1.00. The bill will also raise federal levies on cigars, rolling papers and other tobacco-related products.
Lawmakers voted 66 to 32, largely along party lines, to renew the joint state-federal programme and spend an additional USD 32.8 billion to expand coverage to 4 million more children.
The bill is to provide health insurance to 11 million low-income children. President Obama is expected to sign a final version of it this week. (pi)