[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 6 (Tuesday, February 1, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 1, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
AMERICA'S GOAL IN HEALTH CARE REFORM: TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR AMERICAN 
                                FAMILIES

  (Mr. RICHARDSON asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, a constituent of mine from Santa Fe 
recently wrote to me that she was working full time, but her employer 
considers her part time, to avoid paying health insurance.
  Health care reform is about finding a way for employees to receive 
health benefits and enjoy the security of knowing that he or she and 
their family always will have health coverage in all circumstances.
  Mr. Speaker, Republicans are saying that health care reform is not a 
problem. First they said there was no crisis. Now they are saying maybe 
they want to work with us on health care reform. Now they are 
politicizing the survey about drug use among adolescents, a survey that 
basically was completed early on in the Clinton administration.
  Mr. Speaker, it does not help to politicize our antidrug efforts. It 
does not help to politicize the health care issue. Let us get on with 
health care reform and keep the politics out of it.
  The debate on health care reform must not stumble on how we get to 
reform but what we have when we get there. We must remember that people 
should not have to suffer from ridiculous concerns such as whether they 
are considered part-time or full-time. Without health care reform, 
American families will still have some fear of an avoidable health 
crisis. Our underlying goal in health care reform should be to 
eliminate that fear.

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