SEIU Leaders Denounce Failure To Override SCHIP Veto, Vow To Continue Fight For Children's Healthcare

Washington, DC - Leaders of the largest healthcare union in the nation today blasted Members of Congress who refused to override President Bush's SCHIP veto, and pledged to continue fighting to win healthcare for 10 million uninsured children.

Anna Burger, Secretary-Treasurer of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), applauded those Representatives who stood up to President Bush by voting "yes"on the veto override.

"It takes guts to stand up to the President of your own party, and these leaders deserve credit for doing the right thing for the children of this country,"said Burger.  "But many did not.  And a handful of politicians in Washington, D.C., must not be able to take health insurance away from 10 million children."

As part of a national grassroots and advertising campaign supporting the SCHIP legislation, SEIU spent $1.9 million on print, radio, and television ads, helped tens of thousands of people to send emails and make phone calls into congressional offices, and orchestrated hundreds of press conferences, rallies, and vigils in targeted districts around the country.

SEIU Healthcare Chair Dennis Rivera promised to continue the fight for children's healthcare.  "This fight is far from over,"he said.  "We cannot let politics get in the way of priorities.  There are millions of uninsured children in this country who are depending on us, and we will not rest until they get the coverage they need."

Burger and Rivera said that SEIU would continue to pressure the Members of Congress who voted against the override to change their position and support healthcare for kids. 
         
MEDIA CONTACTS:
  
For Dennis Rivera:
Meghan Finegan, 617-283-8597
meghan.finegan@1199.org

For Anna Burger:
Sara Howard, 202-320-1467
sara.howard@seiu.org