State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

Reauthorization of this program was approved by the 110th Congress but was vetoed by George W. Bush with insufficient votes to ovverride the veto. SCHIP was instead given a temporary extension. Currently, SCHIP contains a ban on abortion funding but is expected to be challenged. Also, under the Bush administration, a policy was initiated to allow expanded SCHIP coverage to cover unborn children and their mothers in order to cover prenatal care. On January 29, 2009, pro-Life Senators tried to pass an amendment to SCHIP that would enshrine this policy in legislation, but it was defeated 39-59.This policy expanding coverage to the unborn and their mothers could be reversed by administrative action by President Obama.