[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 62 (Wednesday, May 18, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                BASIC HEALTH CARE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN

                                 ______


                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 17, 1994

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the package of women's 
and children's health care benefits that are contained in chairman Pat 
Williams' version of H.R. 3600, being considered by the Education and 
Labor Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations.
  For women, the benefits in this package are life-giving, since 
recovery from cancer depends on early detection. The provisions for 
screening mammograms--every 2 years for women in their forties, and 
annually for women 50 and older--are appropriately comprehensive, 
coupled with annual clinical breast examinations for all women. It is 
also appropriate that these services, along with annual pap smears and 
pelvic examinations for all women of childbearing age, be provided with 
no costsharing.
  For children, our most precious resource, the provisions promote 
healthy development and physical and emotional growth. They expand 
outpatient rehabilitation services to include coverage for children 
with chronic and congenital conditions. They also provide hearing-aid 
coverage for children under 18, during the crucial years when efficient 
learning greatly depends on comprehension of spoken language.
  In addition, by providing these services that both save lives and 
help to build healthy lives, we are actually saving money in the long 
run, because preventive care is far and away the most economical care.
  I am proud that this Congress is moving toward health care reform 
that includes prudent, wise, and humane health services for women and 
children. I urge my colleagues to insist that any final version include 
the provisions in the Williams package.

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