Despite
strong support from the U.S. Congress and the American people,
President Bush vetoed the SCHIP bill earlier this month. The bill,
which passed both the House and the Senate on a bi-partisan basis,
would have provided an additional $35 billion over five years to keep
children already receiving health care coverage, and to provide
insurance to nearly four million more children whose health is at risk
due to lack of proper health coverage. The President vetoed the bill
not because the funding passed by Congress exceeded the $5 billion over
five years that his Administration had requested, but because of
ideological differences about how to expand health coverage to poor
Americans. The President has, however, recently expressed a willingness
to compromise with Congress on renewing SCHIP; thanks to those of you
who expressed your disappointment with the White House on this issue.
Contacting your Representative will go a long way to shoring up support
for this important legislation. Click here for more information on our positions on SCHIP. Improving public policies that promote the health of our nation's children is a key issue area of Catholic Charities USA's Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America. This month, be take part in the Campaign by calling on our nation's leaders to protect children's health! Take Action Today
