Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007--Veto Message from the President of the United States

CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 110-62) -- (House of Representatives - October 03, 2007)

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Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Let me ask you this: If you were walking down the street and you saw a child injured on the side of the road, would you stop? Would you do everything necessary to help that child? I think everyone on this floor today has a simple answer to that question. Of course we would.

So why don't we also agree that for the millions of sick children around this country who have no access to health insurance or preventative health care, that we don't have a similar duty to do everything in our power to help them get healed?

That, to me, is the definition of compassionate government. And don't let

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anybody tell you that these kids have access to health care and their parents are just negligent. The truth is that health care availability is shrinking, and the number of children who get sick because they can't get health care is growing.

And just like we have a moral obligation to help that injured child, we have a similar moral obligation to help heal a child who lies sick in their bed simply because their family cannot afford a doctor.

I don't understand why the President won't help that child, but I hope that together, by overriding his veto, we will.

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