US House Fails to override President Bush's Veto

Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, issued the following statement today following the failure of the U.S. House of Representatives to override President Bush’s veto of a compromise bill to strengthen and improve the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a highly successful program that provides health insurance coverage to poor children. The vote was 273-156, 13 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.

“It is disappointing that there were not enough House members willing to stand up for children and vote to override this ill-conceived veto of a bill that would have helped so many children without health insurance.

“Because of President Bush’s veto and the 156 House members who voted to uphold it, thousands of poor children living in every state will not receive health insurance coverage that they would have received under this legislation.  Their actions put the health of many of our nation’s children at risk.

“The veto may have blocked this bill, but it cannot stop our commitment to the most vulnerable in our society. Catholic Charities USA calls on Congress and the White House to work together to find agreement on a bill that provides this critically needed health coverage to more poor children.”