Bush News Conference

President Addresses Foreign Policy, Debate Over Health Care

BUSH: Good morning.

We're now more than halfway through October, and the new leaders in Congress have had more than nine months to get things done for the American people.

Unfortunately, they haven't managed to pass many important bills.

Now the clock is winding down. In some key areas, Congress is just getting started.

Congress has work to do on health care. Tomorrow, Congress will hold a vote attempting to override my veto of the SCHIP bill. It's unlikely that that override vote will succeed, which Congress knew when they sent me the bill.

Now it's time to put politics aside and seek common ground to reauthorize this important program. I have asked Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, National Economic Council Director Al Hubbard, and OMB Director Jim Nussle to lead my administration's discussions with the Congress.