[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 27565]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     CHIP PROGRAM IS COST EFFECTIVE

  (Mr. KLEIN of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Madam Speaker, President Bush rejected the 
wishes of the American people, 68 Senators, 43 Governors, and 265 
Members of this body when he vetoed the children's health bill.
  The reason that so many Democrats and Republicans support the CHIP 
Reauthorization Act is that it is consensus legislation that was 
crafted in a bipartisan fashion.
  Over the last 10 years, the children's health program has proven to 
be a popular and successful program, with 6 million children currently 
receiving quality private health care. It costs less than $3.50 per day 
to cover a child through the CHIP program. Insuring kids is also cost 
effective for taxpayers who end up picking up the tab for indigent care 
in emergency rooms, the most expensive way to care for a child's 
health. A child is also more likely to succeed in education and life if 
they have access to health care at an early age, and it certainly 
benefits our Nation in the long run.
  Madam Speaker, I would hope more of my Republican colleagues would 
work together to recognize the success story of CHIP, and would join us 
today in overriding the President's veto. We need to ensure that more 
children have access to quality health care.

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