Washington, D.C- Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) issued the following statement today after President George W. Bush vetoed legislation to improve the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
“President Bush’s disregard for the healthcare needs of our children is an alarming demonstration of how detached this President is from the priorities of Americans. Americans overwhelmingly support a child’s right to basic health care, and this legislation to provide healthcare to 10 million low-income children has broad bipartisan support. Yet as President Bush continues to ask for billions of dollars for Iraq, he has the audacity to claim that we cannot afford to provide a safety net to our nation’s most vulnerable children.”
“As our troops continue to be put in harm’s way in Iraq with no end in sight, these 10 million children could be insured for an entire year for the cost of just over one month in Iraq. Despite the misplaced priorities of President Bush, I will work with my colleagues to override this immoral, unjust veto and provide these children with the healthcare that they need and deserve.”
