[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 28612]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 DEMOCRATS MAKE CHANGES TO ADDRESS REPUBLICAN CONCERNS AND IT IS STILL 
                               NOT ENOUGH

  (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, the children's 
health insurance legislation passed by the House last month was a 
bipartisan bill that provided health care coverage to 10 million 
American children. Although it received overwhelming support from the 
American people, from 43 Governors, and a veto-proof majority in the 
Senate, the majority of House Republicans rejected it and said they had 
specific concerns.
  To address their concerns, House Democrats met with Republicans and 
introduced a revised SCHIP bill last week. We clarified 3 key points. 
1, there wasn't any possibility of higher income families being 
eligible; 2, it further clarified that immigrants without documents 
would not have access to the program; and, 3, it phased out over 1 year 
the coverage of childless adults.
  But, Madam Speaker, Republicans in this body just can't take yes for 
an answer. Even after addressing their concerns in this revised bill, 
many of our colleagues still insisted on standing with President Bush, 
instead of with working American families.

                          ____________________