WASHINGTON -- A new government survey says more kids have health insurance -- thanks to public health programs.

The government said the number of kids without health insurance continued to fall during the first half of the year -- but more than 7 million children still don't have insurance.

The survey from the National Center for Health Statistics says fewer kids have private insurance, but there's been a jump in the number of kids covered by government-financed programs.

One program being credited is the State Children's Health Insurance Program -- created in 1997 for families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to buy insurance on their own.

The Bush administration hasn't backed proposals to expand the program, but it has proposed tax breaks to help people buy private insurance.