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

Press Release

CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES -- (House of Representatives - October 18, 2007)

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, since its inception in 1997, I have been a steadfast proponent of SCHIP, known in Georgia as PeachCare for Kids, and I rise today to urge my colleagues to join me in sustaining this successful program by voting to override the President's veto.

Let me first say that, while my support of children's health care has been unwavering, this is not a perfect bill. Like many of my colleagues, some provisions in the bill concern me. But let us not let ``perfect'' be the enemy of the ``good.''

On health care, our country faces a tremendous challenge, and while disagreement still impedes finding creative solutions to encourage responsibility for health care to solve problems of access for adults, it is our moral imperative to rise up and meet these challenges for our Nation's children. Furthermore, as Members of this body, it is our solemn duty to protect the youngest and most vulnerable among us. This legislation presents us with such an opportunity.

It is disappointing to see the administration throwing up so many roadblocks. Indeed, this administration has proven its willingness to ``rise up and meet'' other challenges. Beyond that, it has proven its willingness to sign blank checks for a military operation with an ever-changing, increasingly expensive mission. For the past 4 1/2 and years we have been engaged in an overseas conflict that has taken a large toll on this country--in terms of both human life and taxpayer money. While it is of utmost importance to ensure our troops continue to have every dollar, dime, nickel, and penny they need to fight this war, we must not neglect our domestic priorities.

The SCHIP reauthorization asks the administration to rise up and meet the challenge of one of those domestic priorities. Plainly, the bill asks for just 41 days worth of Iraq war funding to embark on a clearly-defined, targeted, and morally justifiable mission--providing American children from low-income families with comprehensive health care.

That's right--just 41 days worth of Iraq war funding would pay for the entire SCHIP bill. Just one week of the Iraq war would pay for 1.7 million children. That's enough to cover all the children eligible for SCHIP in Georgia, as well as several other States. One week of war funding would do all that.

To my colleagues opposing this legislation, let me reiterate something many know very well: the President, recently, asked for compromise legislation.

This bill, in fact, represents a compromise, as evidenced by its broad bi-partisan support. Forty-three of our Nation's Governors, including Governor Sonny Perdue of Georgia, support this legislation, as do 270 organizations representing millions of Americans, 68 Senators and a majority of Congress.

I urge my colleagues to join the bi-partisan majority and vote in favor of overriding the President's veto.

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