House Passes Modified Children’s Health Bill

Today, the House of Representatives approved a revised version of the children’s health bill and sent it to the Senate. The President again promised to veto the bill, and today’s vote fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to override such a veto. The following is the statement of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA:

“Today’s vote is both gratifying and disappointing—gratifying because it demonstrates the House and Senate leadership’s commitment to provide health coverage for 10 million children, and disappointing because it shows that an intractable minority is opposed to spending money to cover uninsured children.

“The leadership has made repeated bipartisan compromises to secure health coverage for these 10 million children. The latest compromise addresses and cures all of the Republican opponents’ arguments about the previously vetoed bill.

“It is now more clear than ever that the Republican opponents’ arguments against the CHIP reauthorization are a smokescreen masking rigid ideology and a refusal to spend funds needed to cover the 10 million children.

“It is high time to set aside rigid ideology and misplaced budgetary priorities so that children receive the health care they need.”

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Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

1201 New York Avenue NW, Suite 1100 · Washington, DC 20005
202-628-3030 · Email: info@familiesusa.org · www.familiesusa.org