WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) thanked his colleagues today for working together to achieve long-term security for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, also called CHIP, by acting quickly to end the ill-advised government shutdown.

Under the spending plan approved Monday, CHIP will be renewed for six years.  CHIP was created with bipartisan support and currently covers basic medical costs for at least 122,000 children across Louisiana.  According to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), the federal government contributed $325.6 million and the state contributed $18.4 million to the CHIP program in federal fiscal year 2016

“My Democratic friends did not have a Lincoln moment when they decided to shut down the entire U.S. government and turn children’s health insurance into a hostage.  Fortunately, good sense eventually prevailed,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “CHIP now has long-term security, ensuring that kids can get the health care they need to grow into healthy adults.”

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