FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
For Media Assistance

Statements of Californians for Healty Kids on President Bush's Veto of SCHIP Reauthorization Bill

SACRAMENTO, California – Californians for Healthy Kids issued the following statement today regarding President Bush’s veto of the SCHIP bipartisan reauthorization bill sent to him by Congress yesterday:

"With this incomprehensible veto, President Bush stood alone today against the will of the majority of Americans, members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, and Governors who support health insurance for all children.

"Children across the nation were counting on the President to invest in their futures. Without SCHIP health coverage, millions of children will go without the vaccinations, check-ups, medications, and doctor and hospital visits they need to grow up healthy and strong.   Now, hundreds of thousands of children in California stand to lose coverage by next year.

"We remain committed to fighting for all children to have health coverage. We will continue our joint efforts with business leaders, state policymakers, educators, faith leaders, seniors’ groups, and healthcare providers, in urging the House of Representatives to override the President’s inexplicable veto, and keep their promise to our children.”

###

Additional SCHIP information:

• The bipartisan bill sent to the President yesterday would have provided $35 billion in additional SCHIP funding over the next five years through a 61-cent tobacco tax.

• SCHIP currently provides health insurance to more than 6 million children – 830,000 California children.  The proposed funding would have provided funds to not just keep current programs running, but also provide insurance for an additional four million children nationwide.

• Under the President’s proposed funding level, 800 California children would become uninsured every day.

The 100% Campaign, a collaborative effort of Children Now, Children's Defense Fund and The Children's Partnership, with primary funding from The California Endowment, was created to ensure that all of California's children obtain the health coverage they need to grow up strong and healthy.

The PICO California Project is the united effort of 20 California congregation-community organizations affiliated with the PICO National Network. Collectively, we represent 350 congregations and 400,000 families statewide and are actively organizing in over 70 cities in Northern and Southern California.