[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 11 (Tuesday, February 8, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           PROMISES, PROMISES

  (Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, Americans want more health security--but they 
are not willing to trade their freedom to get it. The President's 
promise of ``health care that can never be taken away'' looks warm and 
fuzzy--so does a porcupine. Ask the thousands of veterans in my 
district who--while promised health care for life after serving their 
country--now must drive 150 miles for the nearest VA hospital if space 
is available.
  The only outpatient clinic available to 150,000 of them was designed 
for 40,000 cases a year. It is now overwhelmed with requirements for 
60,000 cases a year.
  Ask the millions of Americans on Medicare and Medicaid who are 
beneficiaries, who cannot find a participating physician to serve them. 
Let us face it, Government-run health care systems have a poor track 
record, and they are driving the American taxpayer into the poorhouse.
  Most people are not fooled by impossible promises and plastic 
gimmicks. As the debate heats up, most Americans will not be bullied by 
the bully pulpit. After all, polls show more people are happy with 
their health care then they are with the Clinton administration. Of 
course, both could be improved, and there are choices, because this is 
America.

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