[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 11, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              A CALL FOR SOUND AMERICAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

  (Mr. VENTO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a rationalization 
of our current health care system, A Sound Health Care Policy for 
America. There have been a number or reform proposals put on the table, 
I favor a single payer system. I am willing to consider and work with 
what the President has sought, it certainly an important reform which 
affects an increasing percentage of our economy. IN 1965, about one-
twentieth of our economy in dollars went for health care. Today it is 
one-seventh. Yet many oppose the Clinton plan and really have no 
rational alternatives.
  Mr. Speaker, the fact is that increasingly people who are employed 
and their families are losing private health care benefits. As that 
figure has risen to 38.5 million today the number of private health 
insured families has gone down a proportionate number in terms of the 
past years' statistics to 156.6 million people. Even more graphic is 
the 1989-1992 percentage in which private health insurance has 
plummeted from 75.1 percent to 70.9 percent of the population; families 
are losing their health insurance.
  Mr. Speaker, it is important to face up to the fact of employer 
mandates and to try to nail down the responsibilities at the place of 
work so the funding stream is in place rather than to just get painted 
into a corner with regards to the tax increase type of label which, of 
course, might be good political rhetoric, it might be a good political 
advantage, but it is poor public policy process.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time to face up to the responsibilities and help 
the American people meet their health care needs for themselves and 
their families.

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