[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 25387]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                 SCHIP

  (Mr. COURTNEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, last week President Bush threatened to 
veto a bipartisan agreement that will provide health insurance to 10 
million of America's children.
  Before acting on this threat, the President should talk to our 
Nation's Governors, 43 of whom support a robust reauthorization of 
children's health insurance, known as SCHIP, set to expire this Sunday 
night. Governors such as Republican John Huntsman of Utah, Republican 
Tim Pawlenty of Wisconsin, Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger of 
California, and Republican Jodi Rell of my State of Connecticut have 
all endorsed protecting this program, which the bipartisan agreement 
will accomplish.
  Make no mistake about it; the President's plan will disqualify 
millions of American children from SCHIP coverage in the future. We 
already know, in Connecticut, 5,000 children will be kicked off the 
existing SCHIP program if his plan goes through.
  Mr. Speaker, Republican and Democratic Governors together recognize 
the importance of a strong SCHIP program. It is time for him to listen 
to these Governors and back off his veto threat.

                          ____________________