CHA to Bush: Nine Million Uninsured Children Need Your Help, Not Your Veto

It is expected that Congress will approve SCHIP by the end of this week… regardless of an imminent presidential veto.

Sister Carol Keehan, DC, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), issued the following statement:

The Catholic Health Association is offended by President Bush’s statement today that he will veto bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). It is still not too late for the President to change his mind and do what is right for children in this country.

When any child is allowed to go without health care, we as a nation do not meet our moral obligations or show our compassion. Congress has passed responsible, bipartisan legislation that the public widely supports. It is time for President Bush to stop building barriers to children’s coverage and instead do what the nation wants him to do-provide children with a healthier, brighter future.

The Administration is trying to confuse the American people by saying that reauthorizing SCHIP would create government-run health care. That is simply not true. Now that we have ten years of successful experience with SCHIP, we know for certain that it provides coverage for uninsured children. (Source)