Reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is one of the most important tasks before Congress this year. Together, SCHIP and Medicaid have significantly expanded children's health coverage and improved the health care low-income children receive. Reauthorization offers the opportunity to strengthen and build on the success of these important health coverage programs.

Both the House and the Senate have recognized the need to reauthorize and fund SCHIP, each house pledging $50 billion in new dollars above the baseline for the program. However, due to the "pay-as-you-go" rules adopted by each chamber, the Senate Finance Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee will have to find offsets for the increased spending.

The tobacco tax provision that passed the Senate with a strong bipartisan vote is one very good option for raising some of the necessary revenue for an offset that also serves an important public health goal of reducing tobacco use, especially among youth and young adults. The current federal tobacco excise tax has not changed in nearly five years and is no longer a serious disincentive to smoking. Studies show that every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking by seven percent and overall cigarette consumption by about four percent. By including this provision, Congress can greatly reduce the number of children who take up this deadly behavior that often leads to addiction and reduce tobacco-related health care costs.

In addition, we have a special request for a higher level of advocacy by APHA members whose states are represented by members of the Senate Finance Committee. These states are: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming .

The American Public Health Association is asking supporters of SCHIP reauthorization to go to the APHA website's Take Action page at and follow the instructions to send an e-mail to your members of Congress and your Governor urging reauthorization of the SCHIP program at an increased level.