The House of Representatives just passed by an overwhelming majority the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), which aims to extend government-provided health insurance to 11 million children. The bill is expected to be approved by the Senate and signed by soon-to-be-President Barack Obama.

Obama issued a statement shortly after the passage of the bill, stating: "This coverage is critical, it is fully paid for, and I hope that the Senate acts with the same sense of urgency so that it can be one of the first measures I sign into law when I am President."

The bill moved quickly to a vote, much to the chagrin of Republicans, who argued over Democrats' unwillingness to allow amendments to the legislation. One issue GOP members had with the reauthorization was that raising the tobacco tax by 61 cents -- as the bill calls for -- would not offset the costs.

Minority Leader John Boehner opposed the bill and the changes it would make to the existing program, which Congress first approved in 1997. "I believe the bill before us would undermine the original intent of the SCHIP program by expanding the program to adults, illegal immigrants, and upper-income families who already have access to private health insurance," Boehner said from the House floor.

The bill passed 289-139, with six members not voting. Forty of the 289 ayes were Republicans, including Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), who said the new bill's inclusion of coverage for legal immigrant children was the deciding factor for the South Florida representative.

Just two Democrats crossed party lines to vote against the bill, Reps. Bobby Bright (D-Ala.) and Jim Marshall (D-Ga.).

"In this moment of crisis, ensuring that every child in America has access to affordable health care is not just good economic policy, but a moral obligation we hold as parents and citizens," Obama said in the statement. "That is why I'm so pleased that Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives came together to provide health insurance to over ten million children whose families have been hurt most by this downturn."