[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 71 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
                       HEALTH CARE REFORM PROJECT

  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam President, more than 1,300 organizations and 
businesses across the country formally endorsed an employer-based 
approach to health care reform today. The endorsements, sent to 
Congress in a letter from the Health Care Reform Project, say, ``We 
believe that an employer mandate is a fair, effective and practical 
means for achieving universal coverage. We therefore urge its 
adoption.''
  What this letter shows us is that the political clout of the forces 
supporting comprehensive health care reform is formidable. These 
forces, representing over 93 million Americans--155 times the 
membership of the NFIB--are standing up to let their voices be heard in 
the debate.
  These are the voices of people who go to work each day; who pay the 
bills; and who suffer the indignities of the current system. This is a 
letter of support for the goal of universal health care coverage and, 
more important, a way to achieve that goal.
  More than 340,000 small businesses and 100 of America's largest 
corporations including Heinz, Westinghouse, GM, Ford, Georgia Pacific, 
and others, have endorsed an employer-based system of shared 
responsibility as the best way to achieve comprehensive health care 
reform. In addition, more than 300 small businesses have independently 
signed this letter.
  These businesses know that until everyone contributes that they will 
continue to pay billions of dollars in higher premiums to cover their 
competitors that don't provide insurance. And they know that until 
everyone is covered we will never get costs under control.
  Millions of American workers, farmers, providers, consumers, and 
virtually every senior citizen in America are represented on this list. 
From the National Farmers Union to the Air Line Pilots; from Albany 
Bowling Supplies to NYNEX; from the AARP to Happy Joe's Senior 
Volunteers; from Archer Daniels Midland Corp. to the White Dog Cafe 
these groups and businesses span the width and breadth of the American 
populace.
  They support building on today's system of shared responsibility 
between employer and employee because it makes sense. More than 85 
percent of uninsured Americans are in working families. Eight out of 
ten privately insured Americans get their health care coverage where 
they work. A majority of businesses already offer health care coverage 
to their workers. Clearly, an employer-based system is the basis upon 
which we must build.
  Passing comprehensive reform legislation that guarantees every 
American health care coverage that can never be taken away is a 
difficult task. But the millions of Americans represented in this 
letter are counting on the Congress to act this year. We will.

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