[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 28190]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                  CHIP

  (Mr. SIRES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, the bipartisan CHIP Reauthorization Act had 
the support of over two-thirds of the U.S. Senate, nearly every U.S. 
Governor, and an overwhelming majority of the American people. 
Unfortunately, it did not have the support of two crucial parties, 
President Bush who vetoed it and his Republican friends who voted to 
uphold his veto.
  Instead of helping us extend health care to low-income children, the 
President claims this fully-paid-for bill is excessive spending and 
instead he proposes to spend just $5 billion more than we do now on the 
CHIP program. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the 
President's plan will lead to more than 800,000 children losing their 
coverage.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to know how the President and his 
Republican enablers would determine which 800,000 children lose their 
coverage. And what do they tell the 4 million children who are 
currently eligible for CHIP, but will have no hope of getting this 
coverage unless our bipartisan bill passes? It is time for Republicans 
in this body to reject the President's plan to cut health care for 
children and stand with us in strengthening the CHIP program.

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