Senators Richardville, Kahn, Pappageorge, Birkholz and Van Woerkom offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 124.

A resolution to memorialize the President of the United States and the United States Congress to work in good faith and in a bipartisan manner to adopt legislation to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and provide for the ability to expand such program to cover additional uninsured children.

            Whereas, The Michigan Legislature regards the health of our children to be of paramount importance to families in our state, as well as being a key component in the educational achievement and social and psychological well-being of Michigan's youngest citizens; and

            Whereas, The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) has provided $40 billion to states over the last 10 years to provide health insurance coverage to low-income, uninsured children who are not eligible for Medicaid and whose families cannot afford to purchase private coverage; and

            Whereas, Over 6 million children are reported to be covered by SCHIP, approximately 50,000 of whom reside in Michigan. Despite this coverage, recent census data indicates that there are still more than 9 million children in the United States without health insurance. Approximately two-thirds of these children are reported to be eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP; and

            Whereas, The Michigan SCHIP program, MIChild, is an integral part of the arrangements for health benefits for the children of the state of Michigan. We recognize the value of MIChild in preserving child wellness, preventing and treating childhood disease, and improving health outcomes; and

            Whereas, The federal funding available to the state of Michigan through SCHIP is an invaluable source of funding to provide health benefits for children of modest means; and

            Whereas, The President of the United States and the United States Congress have the opportunity to reauthorize the SCHIP and to provide funding to sustain and expand coverage for children; and

            Whereas, The November 16, 2007, date in the Continuing Resolution passed by Congress to extend funding at current levels is fast approaching; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the President of the United States and the United States Congress to work in good faith and in a bipartisan manner to adopt legislation to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and provide for the ability to expand such program to cover additional uninsured children; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.