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For Immediate Release |
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Contact: Murat Gokcigdem |
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Phone: (202) 225-8885 |
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January 23, 2008 |
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CONGRESSWOMAN JOHNSON VOTES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN’S HEALTH CARE, ATTEMPT TO OVERRIDE PRESIDENT’S VETO
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In A Slowing Economy, Children’s Health Coverage Is More Critical Than Ever |
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Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson voted today to support the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and override the President’s veto of bipartisan legislation to provide health care to10 million children. A total of 152 House Republicans sided with President Bush to sustain the veto and to deny extending healthcare coverage to 3.8 million eligible children. More than 585,461 children in Texas currently receive care through SCHIP, and the bipartisan plan vetoed by the President would have expanded care to 440,000 currently uninsured children in Texas.
“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,” Congresswoman Johnson 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 Congresswoman Johnson.
“When unemployment increases, so do the number of Americans without health insurance,” Congresswoman Johnson 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 indicate overwhelming public support for SCHIP, with as much as 81% of the country backing the bipartisan Congressional plan.
Congresswoman Johnson 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 currently covered under SCHIP 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 Congresswoman Johnson.
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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.
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