She must be behind on the email as I just received this today:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which is a federal-state partnership designed to provide health insurance coverage to low-income children. I understand the concerns you have raised and welcome the opportunity to respond.



On January 29, 2009, the Senate voted 66 to 32 to pass H.R. 2, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009. I recognize your apprehension about a provision in this legislation that gives States the option to enroll legal immigrant children and pregnant women in Medicaid and CHIP, without a five-year waiting period. To be clear, illegal immigrants have never been entitled to receive these benefits. This bill maintains this prohibition.



Additionally, the bill requires that legal immigrant children and pregnant women who are eligible for these benefits present proof of their immigration status in the United States and renew their eligibility every year. There is an option in this Act that allows States to complete the documentation process for U.S. citizens through the Social Security Administration. However, this documentation process does not apply to legal immigrants.



Most importantly, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 enables States to provide an additional four million children from low-income families with health care coverage. Currently, there are approximately nine million children in the United States who lack health insurance. This bill improves a program that can help meet the basic health care needs of some of the country's most vulnerable children. On February 4, 2009, President Barack Obama signed this legislation into law (Public Law No. 111-3).



The Senate dedicated hours of bipartisan debate to this bill, and Senators from both sides of the aisle had the opportunity to offer amendments. I welcome you to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841 if you have any questions or additional comments on this important topic. Best regards.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator