Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi and parents and children affected by the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) held a photo opportunity this morning before the final House vote on the bill, which President Obama will sign into law this afternoon. Below are the Speaker’s remarks and answer to a reporter’s question:
“This is a very special day for us in the House of Representatives and in the Congress of the United States. Here we have our very special guests who have come to help us pass legislation, which will not only help them, but will help 11 million children in America.
“It is legislation we have been working on for years. We will pass it today and President Obama will sign it this afternoon — and that represents real change for America’s children.
“These are our very important guests, some of them you may have known before. Lilli and Alex were here before when we were passing the bill the first time a few weeks ago. And they helped just make the case by telling the personal stories of their families and the need for health care, especially in Alex’s case.
“If you want to know who’s here: we have John and Christian Kaine, and then we have Lilli and Alex Paz — whom you’ve met before. Where’s Zach? Zach Myers — here’s Zach. And then we have Rocco Somma — here’s Rocco, Zach’s cousin. And then Angelica, who is not here yet. And then Jacob Hodges.
“But again, in the course of the past two years, we have passed this bill a number of times in the House. Today after we pass it, it will go to the President’s desk.
“Everybody from AARP to the YWCA, YMCA and everything in between — you’ve met some of these children when they came for Easter Seals and March of Dimes, to make the case for the 11 million children who need health care in our country.
“The sounds you hear behind me are the sounds of the future. They are the most beautiful sounds that I can think of, as a mother and a grandmother. And I thank our special guests for joining us.
“Thanks for coming by. With your help, today we are going to help 11 million children. I want to say ‘thank you’ to all of you for what you are going to make happen today.”
Q: [Question was inaudible but topic was the Speaker’s reaction to former Senator Tom Daschle withdrawing as nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services.]
Speaker Pelosi. There would be no question that he would have been a great leader in this effort. But the effort is one that will happen and we look forward to working with President Obama to make health care — health insurance — available for all Americans and to do that soon. We look forward to working with the Obama Administration and look forward to hearing who his appointment will be to fill that post.
Thank you all very much. Thank you.
