S.1714

Title: Small Business Children's Health Education Act of 2007Purpose: to establish a multi-agency nationwide campaign to educate small business concerns about health insurance options available to children.
Sponsor: [D] Sen Kerry, John F. [2] [MA] (introduced 6/27/07); Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 6/27/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.Summary: This bill calls for the SBA Administrator, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of the Treasury to collaborate as a task force in order to design, implement, and monitor a nationwide campaign to provide information regarding children’s health insurance to small businesses.  The campaign will seek to relay information regarding private insurance options and public assistance programs (such as Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Insure Kids Now hotline) to business owners.  Information regarding ways to make insurance more affordable, including Federal and State tax deductions and credits for health care-related expenses and health insurance expenses and Federal tax exclusion for health insurance options available under employer-sponsored cafeteria plans, will also be disseminated to owners and employees of small businesses.

Contact: Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, (202) 224-5175

ASPIRA Policy Position

ASPIRA supports efforts to ensure that all children have health insurance. This legislation could significantly increase participation of children from low and middle-income families to participate in the SHIP and other government-sponsored health insurance plans.