PORTLAND – Maine could receive $362.4 million if Congress reauthorizes the State Children’s Health Insurance Program at spending levels included in a budget resolution passed in March, an advocacy group that promotes universal health care coverage said Thursday.

Families USA said the new funding would enable Maine to expand its ability to cover more of the nearly 21,000 children in the state who lack health insurance. Two-thirds of those are eligible for MaineCare.

The group released a report pressing the case for a five-year SCHIP reauthorization that includes $50 billion, the amount of new money set out in the budget resolution passed by the House and Senate.

The report said that in addition to helping uninsured kids, economic benefits to Maine of full funding include $141 million in increased business activity, $53.9 million in increased wages and 1,857 additional jobs.

The 10-year-old SCHIP provides health coverage to children of families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but not high enough to buy other health insurance.