Washington, DC –Congressman Al Green (TX-09), today, responded to the President’s veto of the bi-partisan, bi-cameral SCHIP reauthorization bill.   This legislation will reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, adding $35 billion new dollars to the program over 5 years.  These additional funds will ensure health care coverage for more than 10 million children -- preserving coverage for the 6.6 million currently enrolled in SCHIP and extending coverage to 3.8 million children who are currently eligible for the program but un-enrolled.  There are 440,000 uninsured children in Texas alone who could benefit from this legislation.  Congressman Al Green’s comments are below.
             
 “We live in a country where nearly 1 out of every 110 people is a millionaire.  Unfortunately, this is the same country where more than 1 out of every 10 children lacks health insurance coverage.  We have lost our way.   We live in a country where we could insure 10 million needy children, with the money spent in 41 days on the Iraq war.  We have lost our way.   The children who are enrolled in Texas CHIP and SCHIP programs around the country are from hard working families, they are needy not greedy children whose parents could not otherwise afford healthcare.  These children deserve the opportunity to have access to affordable and consistent health care.  Healthy children become healthy, productive adults.”

“By reauthorizing SCHIP through this bi-partisan, bi-cameral agreement, we are ensuring that millions of children can receive the care they need.  If President Bush truly does not want to leave any child behind he must sign this important piece of legislation into law.  By vetoing this bill to re-authorize SCHIP, the White House is abdicating its responsibility to give our nation’s low-income children the opportunity to have a healthy start in life.”
 
“Caring for the long-term health of our children is of paramount importance. The health of our children is the health of the future of this great nation.   This bi-partisan bill, which has been approved by both houses of Congress would reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program adding 35 billion new dollars to the program over 5 years.  These additional funds will ensure health care coverage for more than 10 million children -- preserving coverage for the 6.6 million currently enrolled in SCHIP and extending coverage to 3.8 million children who are currently uninsured – 440,000 in Texas alone.

“Texas has been among the worst states in the nation in terms of insuring low-income children.  We have lost our way in the State of Texas and gone from a state that was once a leader in enrollment to one that has neglected children.  Texas SCHIP enrollment fell from 500,000 in 2003 to 300,000 in 2006, while overall uninsured rates continued to rise.  This legislation would aid Texas in our efforts to recapture those children in our state who are eligible for SCHIP but not currently enrolled in the program.”