October 23, 2007 – Congressional Democrats continue to make the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) a top priority, inviting the head of March of Dimes to deliver the party’s radio address this past Saturday.
“Every child needs preventive care," said Dr. Jennifer Howse. "It helps them become healthy, productive adults."
This weekend’s address was the fifth consecutive week the Democrats’ radio address revolved around SCHIP.
After falling just 13 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to override President Bush’s veto of increased funding for SCHIP, House lawmakers are pledging to move forward with a new version of the bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the new bill will contain only minor changes and will ensure that it provides at least 10 million children with health insurance.
The bill Bush vetoed would have increased funding for SCHIP by $35 billion over five years. The program currently provides 6.6 million children with health insurance and the additional funding passed by the House and Senate would have provided an additional four million children with health care. With 9 million children in this country currently without health care, polls have found between 75 to 80 percent of the country support the vetoed bill.
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