Pallone Urges Bush to Support Strengthening the Children's Health Insurance Program

Statement

PALLONE URGES BUSH TO SUPPORT STRENGTHENING THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, issued the following statement today at a press conference calling on President Bush to reconsider his veto threat of a bill that would strengthen the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to include almost every child who is currently eligible. The New Jersey congressman spoke at a rally, where he was joined by children, seniors, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, AFSCME President Gerald McEntee, Alliance for Retired Americans President George Kourpias and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

"It is hard to imagine in a nation as wealthy as ours that for the last two years the number of uninsured children has increased each year.

"Before 2005, thanks to the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), we saw annual reductions in the number of uninsured children. Clearly, these disturbing increases over the last two years demonstrate a need to strengthen this important health care program that provides access to health insurance for our most vulnerable children.

"Last month, the House acted and passed the Children's Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act, which would allow us to provide health insurance to five million more children. This Democratic House is concerned that too many children are growing up without health insurance---making it impossible for them to receive the regular checkups that they need to live long and healthy lives.

"President Bush's response was a veto threat. He explained that the bill is simply too expensive. What he ignores is the fact that the CHAMP Act is fully paid for. The price tag is $50 billion additional dollars over five years. Again, the president says it's simply too much money. Yet, he has no problem asking this Congress to rubberstamp a new war emergency funding bill that press reports say could be as high as $50 billion, and that would only last about five months.

"The days of White House inaction and indifference must end. It's time President Bush prioritize the health care needs of our nation's children. He should support the CHAMP Act."

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