WASHINGTON — The House today overwhelmingly approved a bill extending health coverage to 4 million uninsured children, giving President Barack Obama a much-needed win on health care and taking a first step toward his promise of universal coverage.

The Democratic-controlled House passed the bill 290-135 with 40 Republicans backing it. Obama plans to sign it into law later today.

The bill calls for spending an additional $32.8 billion on the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Lawmakers generated that revenue through a much higher federal tobacco tax.

"Unemployment keeps rising and people are going from worried to scared," Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said during House debate on the legislation. "At such a time, it is our most basic economic and moral responsibility to provide health care to the most vulnerable among us."

To cover the increase in spending, the bill would boost the federal excise tax on a pack of cigarettes by 62 cents, to $1.01 a pack.