The Senate voted 68-31 last night to pass the AHA-supported Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (H.R. 976), which would renew and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. The bipartisan bill would increase the federal tobacco tax to fund the program’s renewal and add 3.2 million children to the 6.6 million children already covered by SCHIP. The legislation also would extend optional coverage to pregnant women and relieve states of some administrative burdens imposed by new Medicaid citizenship documentation requirements. The House passed a different SCHIP bill Wednesday so the two bills must be reconciled in conference. House and Senate conferees are expected to be named after Congress returns from its August recess. President Bush has threatened to veto both versions of the bill. Without reauthorization, SCHIP will expire Sept. 30. AHA Executive Vice President Rick Pollack said, “With the Senate action, Congress has taken an important step forward in reauthorizing this important health program for children. We will work with lawmakers in the weeks ahead to ensure that this important legislation becomes a reality.”