Congress Passes Budget With Measures Beneficial to Children and Working Families

First Focus praises funding for SCHIP and other measures which will help America’s working families

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, First Focus lauded members of the Congress for enacting measures within the fiscal year 2008 budget that are significant to the health and well-being of children and working families. The legislation (S. Cong. Res. 21) represents an agreement between both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

“All of America’s children should have health coverage, a good education, and benefit from a sensible economic policy,” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus. “I am very pleased to see funds for the SCHIP set aside at $50 billion. This resoundingly successful program has earned broad, bipartisan support among lawmakers, and has dramatically reduced the percentage of uninsured children in America.”

Within the measure is $50 billion for expansion and improvement of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), an invaluable program which has dramatically reduced the percentage of uninsured children in America. Further, the legislation extends the child tax credit and as well as a 10 percent tax bracket for low income families.

“I am heartened to see this budget extend responsible tax measures that will continue to improve the economic future of millions of working families,” Lesley continued. “With a recent study showing that medical costs for families will increase eight percent in 2007, these provisions will not only reduce the cost of healthcare but will also increase the amount of money put back into the pockets of working families.”

A recent study by the Milliman, Inc. has found that a family’s total medical costs will increase eight percent in 2007, reaching an average of $14,500, an increase of $1,118 from 2006.