U.S. Representative Alcee L. Hastings Blasts President's Veto of SCHIP Bill

Press Release

U.S. Representative Alcee L. Hastings Blasts President's Veto of SCHIP Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Alcee L. Hastings today blasted President Bush's veto of critical bipartisan legislation expanding the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and providing over 10 million children with healthcare insurance.

"The President's veto of the SCHIP legislation was irresponsible and inexcusable. Through his actions, literally hundreds of thousands of low-income children in Florida have been told today by the President that they can't have healthcare insurance. Rather than supporting our kids, the President is cutting their access to health care," said Representative Hastings. "How can we even attempt to spread democratic values in other nations when we have a President who actively chooses to turn his back on our nation's most vulnerable population? The President has made his choice in this matter known. I choose our nation's children and will continue to fight for their health and well-being by voting to override this veto."

While approximately 303,000 kids are currently enrolled in Florida CHIP, there are more than 464,000 children in Florida eligible for SCHIP or Medicaid but not enrolled because of funding shortfalls. The bill vetoed by President Bush today would have provided nearly $530 million in additional funding to Florida in fiscal year 2008 alone to enroll literally hundreds of thousands of kids into the program. This funding is now in jeopardy because of the President's actions.

Representative Hastings will vote to override the President's veto when the House of Representatives reconsiders the bill.

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