| Clyburn Floor Remarks on SCHIP Veto Override
Thursday, October 18, 2007
 Printable Format
When it comes to the war on terror, the President is always quick to remind Members of the international community that they are either with us or against us. There is no neutral or impartial position that can be taken. Well, I am here to tell my colleagues that there is no nonaligned position that can be assumed here today. You either support working families with health care for their children or you don’t, it is just that simple.
Now I have heard the specious claims that SCHIP is a form of “socialized medicine.” The President did not call it socialized medicine when he promised the American people he would seek to expand it when he was accepting his Party's nomination for a second term. Then again, how can it be socialized medicine when it covers 10 million children and not be socialized medicine for 6 million.
And the outrageous claim that this Congress is neglecting poor children is inaccurate. We already provide assistance to poor children through Medicaid. SCHIP is designed to provide assistance to those working families whose incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid and too low to purchase private health care coverage.
If you do not want to provide relief to middle income families you should just have the guts to say so. But don’t come here to the Floor and mislabel this bill as “socialized medicine” or accuse Democrats of not prioritizing the needs of America's children.
I implore those of you who plan to vote to sustain the President's veto to reconsider your position. Think of how devastated you would be if your children and grandchildren had to go without basic health services. Imagine the hopelessness and despair you would feel in such a situation.
Think of this when you cast your votes today.
Because when you cast your votes today you either stand with our children or you stand against them, there is no in between. Vote yes on overriding the veto.
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