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HR 561 105th Congress House

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require that group health plans and insurers offer access to coverage for children and to assist families in the purchase of such coverage, and for other…

Official title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require that group health plans and insurers offer access to coverage for children and to assist families in the … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require that group health plans and insurers offer access to coverage for children and to assist families in the purchase of such coverage, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 5, 1997 See on congress.gov
Taxation Administrative procedureChild healthCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerce
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Department of Health and Human ServicesDiscrimination in employmentDiscrimination in insuranceDiscrimination in medical careEconomics and Public FinanceEmployee health benefitsExcise taxFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkGovernment publicityGrants-in-aidHealthHealth insurance
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 9 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 21, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
Feb 14, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Feb 12, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 4, 1997
Referred to House Commerce
Feb 4, 1997
Referred to House Education and the Workforce
Feb 4, 1997
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Feb 4, 1997
Referred to House Ways and Means
Feb 4, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E137)
Feb 4, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 21, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Children Health Insurance Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, to: (1) require group health plans and health insurers to provide access to coverage for a participant's or beneficiary's qualifying children; and (2) impose a noncompliance excise tax.

Provides a tax credit, subject to limitations based on adjusted gross income, for an individual who purchases child health care coverage. Provides, as specified, for the payment by an employer of an additional payment to an employee's children's health insurance credit advance amount. Sets forth a reporting requirement relating to premiums received for health insurance coverage for children.

Prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee eligible for the credit.

Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require a State plan to provide cost-sharing assistance for qualifying children in a family with income below 150 percent of the poverty line.

Provides for grants to States to operate health insurance outreach and information programs concerning access to the benefits and coverage provided by this Act.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 3
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Mar 5, 1997
 D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Feb 11, 1997
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Feb 11, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 561: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require that group health plans and insurers offer access to coverage for children and to assist families in the purchase of such coverage, and for other purposes.. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-561/
MLA
"H.R. 561: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require that group health plans and insurers offer access to coverage for children and to assist families in the purchase of such coverage, and for other purposes.." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-561/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 561, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-561/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 561: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require that group health plans and insurers offer access to coverage for children and to assist families in the purchase of such coverage, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-561/)
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