SCHIP families should be thanking Senator Kennedy

6.6 million children have health coverage because of the bill he championed:

"Kennedy did not give up on the measure, saying: "We shall offer it again and again until we prevail. It's more important to protect children than to protect the tobacco industry."<16> Both Bill and Hillary Clinton argued for including the children's health insurance in subsequent legislation.<9> The bill was indeed revived by Kennedy and Hatch a month after its initial defeat.<4> Organizations from the Children's Defense Fund to the Girl Scouts of the USA lobbied for its passage, putting public pressure on Congress;<4> Hillary Clinton was pushing for it as well,<3> with Kennedy urging her to use her influence within the White House.<4> SCHIP was then passed and signed into law by Bill Clinton on August 5, 1997<3> as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, to take effect the following month.<17>"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Children%27s_Health_Insurance_Program#2009_reauthorization

Thank You Senator Kennedy