[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 25 (Wednesday, March 9, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      HEALTH CARE REFORM CONSENSUS

  (Mr. ENGEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, as we are debating health 
care reform, consensus is being formulated. I am a cosponsor of a 
single-payer plan and also President Clinton's bill. But whatever bill 
we pass must have comprehensive mental health benefits.
  Mental health benefits should not be a second thought; mental health 
benefits must be on a par with any other benefits that we offer in any 
final bill that passes this legislature.
  It ought not to be phased in years from now; it ought not to be 
financed at a lesser level than any other ailment. Mental health needs 
to have parity because we do have problems. Mental health is a serious 
problem. I would find it hard to support any bill that does not treat 
mental health like any other illness in our mental health bill or any 
bill that we pass.
  It is important to have universal coverage, it is important to 
eliminate preexisting conditions, it is important to do all the things 
the President wants to do, but we must make sure mental health is part 
of the final package.

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