Degette Stands Up for Kids' Health

Press Release

Energy and Commerce Committee Vice Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) today voted to support the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and override the President's veto of bipartisan legislation to provide health care to over 10 million low-income children nationwide. Unfortunately, 152 House Republicans voted lock-step with President Bush to sustain the veto on a vote of 260 to 152 blocking nearly 4 million additional low-income children from receiving health care coverage. DeGette assailed Congressional Republicans for "sustaining the President's veto denying millions of low-income children health care during these tough economic times."

"Our economic outlook has deteriorated since President Bush vetoed this bipartisan, compromise bill for the second time last year. By sustaining his veto, Congressional Republicans continue to stand between millions of children and the health care they need.

"As our economy weakens, more and more parents are having difficulty finding affordable health insurance for their children. By playing politics, President Bush and his Republican allies are denying millions of low-income children access to quality health care, including 60,000 kids in Colorado. Funding the enrollment of children already eligible, but not enrolled in SCHIP, is more critical than ever as the Joint Economic Committee projects that 12,000 low-income children in Colorado will become eligible each year for SCHIP and Medicaid during this economic downturn."

The bipartisan SCHIP bill is supported by 81 percent of the American people; 64 Senators (including 17 Republicans); 43 Governors (including 16 Republicans); and more than 270 organizations, including AARP, AMA, Catholic Health Association, and Families USA.

Source