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

Floor Speech

CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES -- (Extensions of Remarks - January 28, 2008)

HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY
OF MASSACHUSETTS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2008

* Mr. MARKEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge a ``yes'' vote on overriding President Bush's veto of the urgently needed reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Over the last several months, President Bush has had an opportunity to work with a bipartisan majority of Congress and provide health insurance to over 10 million low-income children. However, he decided instead to place himself on the wrong side of the history of health care and play politics with the health of American children.

* The Children's Health Insurance Program is a highly successful program with a proven track record that is supported by an overwhelming majority of the American public. We need to reauthorize and build on the success of this program and override this ill-timed and unconscionable presidential veto.

* A recent Joint Economic Committee report estimated that between 700,000 and 1.1 million additional children will enroll in Medicaid and CHIP programs each year due to slowing employment growth.

* In fact, the JEC report notes, ``The association between poor economic conditions and children's enrollment in Medicaid/CHIP is large, consistent, and statistically significant.'' So what does the president do as working families strain to make ends meet in the face of a looming economic crisis? He vetoes health care for poor children! This is unacceptable.

* To my Republican colleagues, who are considering how to vote on this bill today--given the current economic landscape, I urge you to reject the President's radical stand against poor, sick children and join the overwhelming majority of the American public who support this important program.

* It has been said that ``Health is the first wealth.'' Well, what does it say about our country when many families that work hard to make ends meet are forced to choose between providing health care for their children and putting food on the table? If we are to give low-income families a chance to succeed in our society, we must give them access to the health care that they need and deserve.

* We have known for some time that our nation has 9 million uninsured children, with the vast majority coming from families that cannot access affordable coverage. This number will only grow, as more and more families feel the squeeze of the increasing costs of living and unemployment rates.

* Sadly, most of our Republican colleagues turned their backs on these families by voting to sustain President Bush's veto in October. Health coverage for all of our Nation's children should be a priority. Worsening economic conditions only reinforce the need to cover children from low-income families, in which parents are forced to choose between health care and necessities like food and shelter. No parent should have to choose between caring for a sick child and putting food on the table.

* I urge an ``aye'' vote to override this veto.

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