DeGette Stands Up For Kids' Health

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Vice Chair DianaDeGette (D-CO) today voted to support the State Children's HealthInsurance Program (SCHIP) and override the President's veto ofbipartisan legislation to provide health care to over 10 millionlow-income children nationwide. Unfortunately, 152 House Republicansvoted lock-step with President Bush to sustain the veto on a vote of260 to 152 blocking nearly 4 million additional low-income childrenfrom receiving health care coverage. DeGette assailed CongressionalRepublicans for "sustaining the President's veto denying millions oflow-income children health care during these tough economic times."

"Our economic outlook has deteriorated since President Bush vetoedthis bipartisan, compromise bill for the second time last year. Bysustaining his veto, Congressional Republicans continue to standbetween millions of children and the health care they need.

"As our economy weakens, more and more parents are having difficultyfinding affordable health insurance for their children. By playingpolitics, President Bush and his Republican allies are denying millionsof low-income children access to quality health care, including 60,000kids in Colorado. Funding the enrollment of children already eligible,but not enrolled in SCHIP, is more critical than ever as the JointEconomic Committee projects that 12,000 low-income children in Coloradowill become eligible each year for SCHIP and Medicaid during thiseconomic downturn."

The bipartisan SCHIP bill is supported by 81 percent of the Americanpeople; 64 Senators (including 17 Republicans); 43 Governors (including16 Republicans); and more than 270 organizations, including AARP, AMA,Catholic Health Association, and Families USA.