[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 19]
[House]
[Pages 26287-26288]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      PRESIDENT'S VETO THREAT OF CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE BILL

  (Mr. CLAY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday this Congress sent the President 
bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the Children's 
Health Insurance Program. This bill will provide 10 million low-income 
children with health care coverage, including 4 million uninsured 
children who are currently eligible for the program but not yet 
covered. Unfortunately, President Bush just vetoed this bipartisan 
legislation.
  The President's opposition to this bill puts him squarely in the 
minority. The legislation has received overwhelming support from a wide 
variety of groups such as the AMA. A new Washington Post/ABC News poll 
shows that 72 percent of Americans support the reauthorization of the 
CHIP program.
  Mr. Speaker, I am heartened that 45 of my Republican colleagues in 
this body joined Democrats in passing this critical legislation. 
However, if the President wants to veto it, I hope other House 
Republicans will stand with America's children instead of with the

[[Page 26288]]

President and vote to strengthen the CHIP program.

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