(WASHINGTON, DC)–Today, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks voted to override President Bush’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). House Republicans were able to sustain the President’s veto for the third time in the 110th Congress. The vetoed bill would have extended coverage to an additional 3.8 million children in the United States.

“In New York state 688,362 children rely on SCHIP for health care coverage and at a time when the United States is on the verge of a recession it is critical that all children eligible for SCHIP have access to the program,” said Meeks. “Families are stretched beyond their means. With the increase in gas, heat, food and health care costs it is inexplicable that the President and House Republicans would deny coverage to needy children. The vetoed bill would have provided New York the ability to cover an additional 268,000 children under SCHIP.”

This legislation blocked by Republican House members would have provided a $35 billion expansion of the SCHIP program. SCHIP is a popular program supported by an overwhelming 81 percent of the country. The bipartisan plan was endorsed by Governors of both parties. The bill passed in both Houses of Congress with support from Republicans and Democrats.

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