Press Statement
House Failure to Override President Bush’s SCHIP Veto Vote is a “Bitter Disappointment”

“Today, by a narrow margin, the House of Representatives was unable to override President Bush’s callous and short-sighted veto of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).  This is a bitter disappointment that will deal a crushing blow to efforts to help America’s military families, as well as to improve children’s health.


This legislation included a measure to expand the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for the first time ever, allowing more unpaid leave for families of service members injured in combat.  By vetoing this bill, President Bush rejected a recommendation made by his own Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors.  We urge Congress to immediately re-introduce this measure, which would mean so much to the military families that already are making such great sacrifices.


Low-income children and families also will suffer if the President’s veto is allowed to stand. President Bush is blocking state efforts to give children in low-income families the health care they need preventive and other care that can improve their health for a lifetime.  The bill also included critical provisions designed to improve the quality of pediatric care. 


We urge Congress to find a way to do what the nation wants and needs to ensure that a strong bill becomes law despite President Bush’s shameful veto.”

For more information, contact us:

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National Partnership Media Line
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About the National Partnership for Women & Families

The National Partnership for Women & Families is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group dedicated to promoting fairness in the workplace, reproductive health and rights, access to quality, affordable health care and policies that help all people meet the dual demands of work and family.

More information is available at NationalPartnership.org.

For general inquiries, please email press@nationalpartnership.org.