Washington—USAction applauded members of Congress Thursday for again passing a bipartisan plan to renew and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.  President Bush has threatened to veto the legislation, which would guarantee 10 million children access to quality, affordable health care.

"Even after bipartisan House negotiations addressed Republicans' objections to the bill, President Bush's remaining allies still voted against health care for America's children," said USAction Program Director Alan Charney.  "Members of Congress who continue to stand with President Bush in opposition to the popular, practical and proven State Children's Health Insurance Program are on the wrong side of both common sense and public opinion, and USAction will make sure they feel the heat from their constituents.

"USAction thanks the congressional leadership and all members who voted to guarantee quality, affordable health care to 10 million children in America," Charney said.

President Bush vetoed a bipartisan plan to renew and expand the children's health program earlier this month.  In each of the three weeks since, the cost of his endless, failed war in Iraq has equaled a year's worth of health care for 1.7 million kids.

USAction has been a leader in the Campaign to Save Children's Health Care. As Congress prepared for today's vote, USAction ran television ads calling on several members of Congress who initially opposed SCHIP to change their votes.  The ads are available at www.usaction.org/schip. 

USAction affiliates also held dozens and dozens of events featuring the voices of health care providers, teachers, faith leaders and other groups to demand that lawmakers stand with the children and working families in their communities in opposition to the president's unconscionable decision.

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USAction and our affiliates in 24 states join together to win social, racial and economic justice for all.  We connect issues to elections and policy to politics. We seek to take our democracy back from the corporate elite and the well-heeled special interests that dominate the political process today – because we believe that government has a critical role to play in ensuring liberty and justice for all.  Members of the media who wish to interview USAction Program Director Alan Charney should contact Will Matthews at (202) 263-4541.