[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 81 (Thursday, June 23, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1020
 
          A CALL FOR BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. DURBIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. Speaker, in the 1930's, the chairman of the 
Republican National Party went on a national radio network and before 
the microphone he started jingling a set of metal dog tags. And he 
said, ``Ladies and gentlemen of America, what you hear are the dog tags 
that every American will have to wear if we pass Social Security.''
  He argued then that if Social Security were enacted, it would be a 
step toward socialism that would take away the personal freedoms of 
America. We do not hear that Social Security argument today from either 
side of the aisle. But we do hear the same slogans about big brother 
and big government and socialism, when it comes to the health care 
reform to date.
  In the history of our country, there have been Members in this body 
who have risen above party discipline and above cynical slogans to 
respond to our national needs. In the weeks ahead, the Nation can only 
hope that some Republican Members will defy their party's marching 
orders to sabotage health care reform and join in to find a truly 
bipartisan solution to our Nation's health care problem.
  The Republican National Committee is determined to defeat President 
Clinton's efforts to solve our health care crisis. But can anyone truly 
believe that the American people are more interested in political 
gridlock than in progress? American families across this Nation are 
looking for guaranteed private insurance coverage that can never be 
taken away. There has to be a bipartisan solution. We need Members on 
both sides to work together to make it happen.

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