The following is the complete, unedited text of the message that President Bush used to inform Congress of his decision to veto H.R. 976, a bill that would have extended authorization for the state Children’s Health Insurance Program.
CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007–VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
To the House of Representatives:
I am returning herewith without my approval H.R. 976, the ”Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007,” because this legislation would move health care in this country in the wrong direction.
The original purpose of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was to help children whose families cannot afford private health insurance, but do not qualify for Medicaid, to get the coverage they need. My Administration strongly supports reauthorization of SCHIP. That is why I proposed last February a 20 percent increase in funding for the program over 5 years.