WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye announced that the Congress approved an additional $2 million for the State Child Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) in the U.S. Territories as part of the budget for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education in the Fiscal Year 1999 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. The additional $2 million will be divided among the U.S. Territories of American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands.

"I am pleased the Congress recognized the importance of the State Child Health Insurance Program in the U.S. Territories. The additional funding will help to ensure that children in our U.S. Territories are provided the insurance coverage and health care they deserve," said Senator Inouye.

The State Child Health Insurance Program was established in 1997 as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. The S-CHIP is a federal-state partnership intended to provide health insurance coverage to low-income, uninsured children. S-CHIP targets children from families whose annual incomes are higher than the Medicaid eligibility threshold, and who do not have private health insurance coverage.