[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 28, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           FIRST, DO NO HARM

  (Mr. HERGER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, the Hippocratic oath, which all doctors 
take, says, ``first, do no harm.''
  As Congress considers health care reform, many Americans fear losing 
benefits, rationing, or being unable to choose their own doctor once 
reform is actually enacted.
  They also oppose burdensome new taxes, or turning one-seventh of our 
entire U.S. economy over to the Government.
  The public is telling Congress their top priority under reform is 
that we make the same commitment doctors make: first, do no harm.
  Mr. Speaker, there is one plan that preserves what is right with our 
health care system, while fixing what is wrong with it.
  The Rowland-Bilirakis plan allows insurance portability and ends 
discrimination against preexisting medical conditions. It provides real 
malpractice reform, combats fraud, and provides incentives to make 
private insurance more affordable. Let us take this chance to adopt 
consensus reforms we all agree on. Support Rowland-Bilirakis.

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