Catholic Charities USA 'disappointed' at failed SCHIP veto override

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October 18, 2007

Catholic Charities USA 'disappointed' at failed SCHIP veto override
A vote of 273-156 today fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to override President Bush's veto of the extention and expansion of a national supplemental health insurance program for the nation's children. Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, called on Congress and the White House to work together on a compromise that would allow the program, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), to continue and issued the following statement:

"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."

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