[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 80 (Wednesday, June 22, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
             ON HEALTH CARE AND 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF GI BILL

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as we continue the process of 
enacting a health care reform plan, the special interest groups have 
stopped at nothing to derail progress. Harry and Louise are back and 
for the first time the Republican minority has openly stated that their 
Members will be retaliated against if they work with Democrats to pass 
a health care bill.
  The Committee on Education and Labor has nearly completed its version 
of the health care reform plan and, just like President Clinton, we 
have included universal coverage. Universal coverage is the keystone to 
reform. It is crucial, if we are going to eliminate the cost shifting 
that is driving up health care insurance costs.
  There are those who are still claiming that the sky will fall if we 
pass this plan. Yet, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 
signing of the G.I. bill, we are reminded that there were some 
politicians in 1944 who said the same thing, who said we could not 
afford education and housing benefits and job training for those 
veterans. This program helped solidify the American dream and secured 
the American middle class and yet we are hearing the same opposition 
today as we heard in 1944.
  We face the same mentality.
  The American dream is slipping away for many Americans because of the 
health care costs. The only way to bring these rising costs under the 
control is for the requirement of unanimous coverage for every 
American.

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