Pallone Blasts President Bush For Vetoing CHIP Reauthorization Act

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, issued the following statement today after President Bush vetoed the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2007.   

           "Today, President Bush showed blatant disregard for the health care needs of ten million low-income children here in America.  In a nation as wealthy as ours, it is simply unacceptable that the number of uninsured children has increased each of the last two years, and if the president has his way that will continue for years to come.  

"Democrats and Republicans came together to craft a bipartisan bill that would strengthen the Children's Health Insurance Program so that we can reach four million more children who are already eligible for the program.       

"In vetoing the CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2007, the president attempted to showcase fiscal discipline that has not existed at the White House since he came to Washington in 2001.  President Bush has the audacity to ask Congress for another $190 billion to fund the war in Iraq without offsetting a single dollar, and yet he calls us fiscally irresponsible for sending him a bill that is fully paid for and will help 10 million children here in America.  No wonder he chose to veto the bill behind closed doors.     

"Rather than demonstrating fiscal discipline, President Bush showed that he is not the compassionate conservative he once claimed to be. 

"Congress must now stand up for the 10 million children that President Bush is leaving behind.  The Senate has already proven that it can override the president's veto.  In the House, 45 Republicans joined with us in passing this bill last week, but that is not enough.  We need more House Republicans to recognize the importance of strengthening CHIP, so that we can override the president's veto and ensure these children have access to quality health care."   -30-