APHA Urges President Bush Not To Veto CHIP; 'We're Only One Signature Away from Protecting the Health of Our...( Statement from Georges C. Benjamin M...),Health

Statement from Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E) Executive Director

American Public Health Association

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "During a press event yesterday aimed at building support for the reauthorization of his No Child Left Behind Act, President Bush stated that 'we've come too far to turn back.'

"We urge him to show the same compassion when the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) legislation arrives on his desk. The bipartisan legislation, a result of congressional leadership coming together for the health of our children, aims to preserve health coverage for the nearly 6.6 million children currently covered by the program, and provide the same coverage to millions of additional children in need over the next five years.

"The Senate today voted overwhelmingly in support of the bill. We thank them, along with many of their colleagues in the House, for the leadership they have shown on this issue.

"We are only one signature away from a bill that will improve the health of our nation's children. We urge the president to rise above politics and consider the repercussions of a veto.

"A veto will mean that millions of working class Americans are unable to provide their children with health insurance. A veto will mean that millions of children don't have access to the immunizations and preventative care that they need to stay healthy. A veto will mean that millions of parents must worry about what they will do if their child becomes ill.

"The House has spoken. The Senate has spoken. The American people have spoken. We urge President Bush to join the chorus of voices speaking on behalf of children in need and demonstrate his commitment to health by signing the CHIP bill."

Learn more about the American Public Health Association. (http://www.apha.org/about/news/boilerplate.htm)

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