STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON THE PRESIDENT’S THREAT TO VETO SCHIP

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health,Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement in responseto President Bush’s threat to veto the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. “This is a cruel threat to needy children and I urge the President to reconsider. It’soutrageous that there are nearly 9 million uninsured children in America and over600,000 more since 2005. This Administration has failed on healthcare and our childrenare paying the price. Congress has been working in a bipartisan way to get a Children’sHealth Insurance Program bill that will make quality health care available to children ofworking families. This bill will allow children to get the quality healthcare they deserve,and should be signed into law before the program expires next week. After watchinghundreds of thousands of children lose their health coverage on his watch, it'sincomprehensible that President Bush would veto the bill that fixes the problem. This isa cruel threat to needy children and I urge the President to reconsider."