REP. CONYERS VOTES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN’S HEaltH CARE, ATTEMPT TO OVERRIDE PRESIDENT’S VETO

In A Slowing Economy, Children’s Health Coverage Is More Critical Than Ever

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Conyers today voted to support the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and override the President’s veto of bipartisan legislation to provide health care to 10 million children. 152 House Republicans sided with President Bush to sustain the veto, and to keep from extending coverage to 3.8 million children already eligible for the program. More than 118,500 children in Michigan currently receive care through SCHIP, and the bipartisan plan vetoed by the President would have extended care to 80,900 currently uninsured children in Michigan.

“Today, House Republicans stood between 3.8 million additional children who would be covered by SCHIP under this bill and the health care they need,” Rep. Conyers said. “The President’s veto on December 12th denied health care to children of hardworking families across America just as the country began experiencing an economic downturn, with families increasingly struggling with the costs of heat, food, gas and health care,” said Rep. Conyers.

“When unemployment increases, so do the number of Americans without health insurance,” Rep. Conyers said. “In this weak economy, more and more American parents are having difficulty finding health insurance for their children. As a result, the SCHIP program is more critical than ever.”

The legislation vetoed by the President provided a $35 billion expansion of the SCHIP program and would have provided health care coverage to 10 million children. The legislation was backed by Republicans and Democrats in both houses of Congress and enjoyed support from Governors of both parties. Additionally, a series of new polls indicated overwhelming public support for SCHIP, with as much as 81 percent of the country backing the bipartisan Congressional plan.

Rep. Conyers vowed to continue to fight in Washington to enact legislation to provide health care for 10 million children this year. The existing SCHIP program was extended in December until March 2009—but, without this legislation, 3.8 million additional low-income children who are eligible but not enrolled will now not be covered under the program. In addition, state budget shortfalls and administrative rules from President Bush put children who are covered now in jeopardy of losing health care.

“I will continue to work with my colleagues on strengthening SCHIP, because we cannot rest until this Congress succeeds in enacting a plan that will ensure that 10 million children have health care coverage,” said Rep. Conyers.