Byron Dorgan: “I believe midweek this week the House will take up the veto override of the President's veto on the Children's Health…”

“I believe midweek this week the House will take up the veto override of the President's veto on the Children's Health Insurance Program. There has been a lot of discussion about what this Congress has or has not done. I think despite all of the obstacles and roadblocks we have made progress in a wide range of areas. But the one in which we have made significant progress, which I am very proud of, is expanding children's health insurance coverage. Regrettably, we have a lot of children in this country who have no health insurance coverage at all. So the question of whether when they are sick they have a doctor to go to is a function, in many cases, of whether the parents have any income or any money in their checkbook or in their pockets. Many times those children get no health care. In 1997, we put in place the Children's Health Insurance Program. We know it works because we have had it for 10 years. In my State, for example, the Children's Health Insurance Program is not a government program that has created more bureaucracy. It is a block grant to my State that is used by State government to purchase health insurance from Blue Cross/Blue Shield and cover children who have no health insurance. Most States do that. This is not a big government program. This Congress passed a bipartisan piece of legislation. Let me emphasize that it is a bipartisan piece of legislation expanding health insurance coverage for children. I am proud that we have done that.”