[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 53 (Thursday, May 5, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        SMALL BUSINESS WEEK 1994

  (Mrs. MEYERS of Kansas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. MEYERS of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, 1994 Small Business Week 
celebration is almost over and the outstanding representatives from the 
small business community from every State are in Washington to receive 
their awards. The number one issue on their minds was health care 
reform. Many of these entrepreneurs--recognize as exemplary small 
business owners from their respective States--said they have seriously 
looked at the President's health care reform proposal, looked at their 
bottom line, and they simply could not survive the mandate.
  As the winner from my State of Kansas said to me at lunch on Tuesday,

       Congresswoman Meyers, I've run the numbers and we just 
     can't do it. Eight percent of payroll completely wipes out 
     our profit margin--and our profits don't just go into our 
     pockets, after taking out a wage for my wife and myself, our 
     profits are in our inventory--put back into our business.

  Mr. Speaker, it is time the administration and those pushing employer 
mandates stop trying to ``sell'' their employer mandate, and actually 
listen to our Nation's employer--small business. Numerous, reputable 
studies show that mandated, employer-provided health insurance will 
cause substantial job loss. Small business owners want reforms in our 
Nation's health care system that will help them to provide health 
insurance coverage for their employees. However, cramming a mandate 
down their throats is not the solution. Let us listen to our small 
businesses, our Nation's economic engine, and work with them to find 
some solutions to our health care crises.
  Mr. Speaker, the best tribute this body could pay to small businesses 
is to really listen to their concerns. Health care coverage, at the 
expense of one's job, is not the answer. Let us work together for a 
solution that moves us toward universal health care coverage, without 
crippling the American economy.

                          ____________________