[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 27336]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            OVERRIDE THE PRESIDENT'S VETO OF THE SCHIP BILL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kagen) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KAGEN. Mr. Speaker, last evening I introduced you to a young girl 
that I had the honor of representing in northeastern Wisconsin. This is 
3-year-old Kailee Meronek. Kailee and her family live in a trailer home 
just north of Appleton, and she receives care only because the United 
States Congress passed a Republican-inspired bill called the SCHIP, the 
State Children's Health Insurance Program. And through that program, 
funds were sent to Wisconsin, and we created in Wisconsin a program 
called BadgerCare. BadgerCare guarantees that nearly 57,000 citizens 
throughout the State have access to health care. And because they see 
their doctor in their doctor's office, the costs for their health care 
go down. They are not seen in the emergency room. They are seen in the 
doctor's office.
  Kailee gets health care because of BadgerCare. But BadgerCare and 
SCHIP are in limbo. Their futures are in doubt. Why? Because this 
Congress is considering and will vote on Thursday morning whether or 
not to override President Bush's veto of this fundamentally important 
program that provides health care to millions of our children who are 
most in need across the country. The SCHIP bill, which was vetoed by 
the President, guarantees that our children, the children of our 
Nation, have access to health care at the physician's office. It 
focuses on those who are among us that need us the most: our Nation's 
children. It is a private program because private doctors, private 
insurance plans, and private hospitals deliver the health care. It 
spends $3.50 per day for a child like Kailee.
  But Kailee doesn't live alone. She lives in a family and in a 
community, and allow me now to introduce you to her mother and her new 
sister. This is Kailee's mother, Wendy, who is a food server. She's a 
waitress. And she earns $2.33 per hour and tips. She is working hard to 
support her family and lives with her husband, Keith. Keith takes care 
of the children while Wendy is working. And this young girl, Cassidy, 
is 3 months of age. Cassidy doesn't understand health care. She only 
knows that she gets hungry and she has her mother to care for her.
  This country, our Nation, must decide what kind of a Nation we are 
and in which direction we are going to turn. In several days we will 
decide here in Congress whether or not to override a veto, which I 
believe to be morally unacceptable. We cannot say no to our Nation's 
children. We must accept the responsibility of caring for those who are 
most in need.
  That is not just my point of view. This bill is supported by everyone 
who is involved in delivering health care in this country, the American 
Medical Association, the American Nursing Association, and more. The 
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; the American Academy 
of Family Practice; the Federation of American Hospitals; the American 
Hospital Association; Catholic Charities; the March of Dimes; Lutheran 
Services; the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; and more and more.
  Everyone understands that we as a Nation must care for our Nation's 
children first because if our children are healthy, they will be in 
school and be able to learn and gain the education that they require to 
compete in this global marketplace. But it all starts right here 
Thursday morning when this House must vote to override President Bush's 
veto.
  I believe we are at a precipice here in our country. It is getting 
dark, but it's not dark yet. We have to stand up for those who are 
among us that need us the most. Please reconsider your votes. Our 
people, our children need us. Please reconsider your votes.

                          ____________________