Senators Schauer, Hunter, Clark-Coleman and Brater offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 117.

            A resolution to memorialize Congress to override President Bush's veto of the bipartisan bill to reauthorize and expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

            Whereas, Since 1997, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) has covered 6.6 million low-income children whose families are not eligible for Medicaid, but who cannot afford private health insurance; and

            Whereas, President Bush's veto of the reauthorization and expansion of SCHIP jeopardizes the health of millions of children by impeding their access to health insurance.  The $35 billion expansion would increase enrollment from 6.6 million children to about 10 million children.  The additional funding would come from a 61-cent-per-pack increase in the tobacco tax; and

            Whereas, This effective and beneficial program covers approximately 31,588 children in Michigan through the MIChild program. The bipartisan support and broad public support for this program speaks strongly of its need to continue and to expand to provide healthcare coverage to more children; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize Congress to override President Bush's veto of the bipartisan bill to reauthorize and expand SCHIP; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.