[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 35 (Thursday, March 24, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE PLAN IS MOVING FORWARD

  (Mr. GEPHARDT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, for weeks now, the pundits and the back-
seat policymakers have been pronouncing health care reform dead on 
arrival.
  Every day we read about the multimillion dollar negative ad 
campaigns, the high stakes lobbying blitz, the arm-twisting by the 
special interests. Those of us who have been fighting to guarantee 
decent, affordable health care for every single American have certainly 
had an uphill fight.
  But today, it is clear we are winning that fight. Today, it is clear 
that for all the public pronouncements and cynical assessments, 
Congress is actually moving forward on health care reform--quietly, 
deliberately, and responsibly.
  Yesterday, the gentleman from California [Mr. Stark] led the 
Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health, to an important 
victory. They supported a bill that contains all the crucial elements 
of the President's health care plan.
  It guarantees affordable coverage that can never be taken away. It 
lets you choose your doctor and your health plan. It protects and 
strengthens Medicare. It makes all the unfair insurance practices 
illegal.
  And most importantly, the subcommittee's bill means that all the 
expert predictions about the death of national health care are just 
plain wrong.
  Mr. Speaker, actions speak louder than words. And here on Capitol 
Hill, a single vote is worth 1,000 soundbites.
  So, I join with all of my colleagues in praising the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Stark] and the members of his subcommittee. And I look 
forward to joining with you in building on their fine work--and making 
national health care the law of the land.

                          ____________________