Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today released the following statement in reaction to President Bush’s veto of the Children’s Health Care Program (CHIP) which provides basic health insurance to more than six million children whose parents cannot afford private insurance.

“Just two short days after the President declared October 1st Child Health Day and recognized the important role CHIP has played in helping poor children stay healthy, he has decided to turn his back on the health of millions of American kids,” said Harkin. “The CHIP bill has the overwhelming support of Democrats and Republicans, nurses, doctors, teachers and health insurance companies, for one reason – because it works. Once again, President Bush’s rhetoric fails to match his actions, and this time it is at the expense of children across the nation. I pledge to work with my colleagues in the Senate to continue fighting for working families by overturning this veto.”

The Senate passed the bipartisan legislation overwhelmingly last week and the House of Representatives passed it by a large margin weeks ago. Congressional leaders have said they will come together as a bipartisan group and work to override this presidential veto to provide health care to working families.