I've seen some tough fights in my career but I've rarely seen anything like the fight Congress is in now over the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) which would provide health care to 10 million children. It's an immensely popular program and our SCHIP bill passed through the House with overwhelming bi-partisian support before President Bush heartlessly vetoed it.
This Thursday the House of Representatives will vote to attempt to override President Bush's veto and we're just few crucial votes shy of bringing health care to millions of American children.
Tell Congress to Stand for Children's Health Care.
We've been working hard make sure that every member of Congress knows how important children's health care is to America. The Democratic Party has set up a website to send a letter to your Member of Congress, letting them know how important overturning the President's veto is. Over 199,000 people have sent letters to Congress.
Can You Help Send Us Send the 200,000th Letter to Congress?
The pressure we're exerting is already working, as members who voted against SCHIP are reacting to the public outrage and switching their votes. We're so very close to being able to make sure that millions of children can get health care despite President Bush and the Republican Party's best efforts.
Also on this page you'll also be able to hear the heartbreaking audio of twelve year old Graeme Frost, who was in a serious car accident, was in a coma for a week, suffered severe brain trauma, and had to re-learn how to eat and walk.
Last week Graeme delivered the Democratic Radio Address and spoke though his damaged vocal cords about how he owed his life to the coverage he was provided by SCHIP. Immediately the right-wing went into attack mode, swiftboating this poor twelve year old boy and his family for vocally supporting the health insurance that saved their children's lives.
That's what is at stake in this fight, the lives of millions of American children.
Will You Join Me and 199,000 Others in Telling Congress to Override The President's Veto?
In Solidarity,
Rep. Louise M. Slaughter