[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 86 (Thursday, June 30, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 30, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           DOLE-PACKWOOD PLAN

  Mr. DOLE. I wanted to reiterate what I indicated yesterday in the 
Senate Finance Committee with reference to health care reform. It was 
about 18 months ago when we began our journey in a bipartisan way 
toward health care reform.
  Since that time, every Member of this body has participated in 
countless meetings on health care here in Washington, and in their home 
State. Many others, of course, have participated in extensive hearings 
on the subject.
  And as we learned more and more about health care reform, I suspect 
that our opinions on the subject have changed to some degree.
  But throughout this debate, there is one fact that has not changed. 
And that is the fact that we began this journey in a bipartisan spirit. 
And 18 months later, that bipartisan spirit is still very much alive 
and well.
  It is in that spirit that Senator Packwood and I--joined by 38 other 
Republican Senators--and 1 additional supporter, a total of 40--put a 
new proposal on the table yesterday.
  While I am pleased to have the overwhelming majority of Republican 
Senators supporting this bill, I do not consider this to be the 
Republican solution. Nor do I regard it as the only solution. It is 
another option. Hopefully a bipartisan option. I am hoping it will 
attract a number of Democrats in the House and the Senate.

  It is, however, a solution that protects the many strengths of the 
best health care system in the world. It is a solution that maintains 
and increases the quality and choice that Americans have come to 
expect. And it is a solution that truly helps those who are in need.
  If you cannot afford health insurance, then this plan gives you 
access through subsidies.
  If you have been denied insurance because of a pre-existing 
condition, this plan will make the changes needed so you can gain 
coverage.
  If you have lost your insurance because of a change in your 
employment status, then this plan helps you by assuring health 
insurance portability.
  If you own a small business and just cannot afford to give your 
employees health insurance, then this plan would reduce your costs by 
giving you the power to join voluntary purchasing pools with other 
small businesses in your own State or own area.
  If you are self-employed or own a small business, then you have the 
option to purchase insurance through the Federal employees health 
benefit plan, the same program that insures the White House, the 
Congress and over 2 million Federal employees, and I think that is 
very, very important.
  There are many other common-sense provisions, like allowing medical 
IRA's, tough medical malpractice tort liability and ensuring tax 
fairness by ensuring the self-employed and individuals receive the same 
tax treatment on their insurance premium payments as businesses and 
employees. This will help farmer and ranchers all across America and 
other self-employed people across America. Those who have labeled this 
an ``obstructionist'' plan or ``status quo'' plan, or an ``incomplete'' 
plan are just plain wrong.
  Let me admit, however, that there are some things missing from this 
plan.
  You will not find any new taxes, for instance. Nor will you find 
price controls or job-killing mandates on employers or the placement of 
a mountain of bureaucrats between Americans and their doctors. All 
these are missing from this plan. You will not find any of that in this 
plan, and we are proud there is none of that in this plan.
  So, Mr. President, my purpose for making this statement today is to 
invite my colleagues on the other side of the aisle--and we have 
already talked with a number of colleagues through their staffs, and we 
have briefed a number of colleagues on this bill. Today we were joined 
by a large group of supporters of different associations, including the 
American Farm Bureau, the American Cattlemen Association, the U.S. 
Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, 
the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Restaurant 
Association.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to print the entire group in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

Business Groups Meeting With Senators on the Dole/Packwood Health Care 
                          Plan--June 30, 1994

       National Federation of Independent Business.
    
    
       National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.
       Schering--Plough Corp.
       National Association of Manufacturers.
       U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
       Printing Industries of America.
       Searle Pharmaceuticals.
       National Retail Federation.
       American Business Council.
       Federation of American Health Systems.
    
    
       National Restaurant Association.
       American Home Products.
       American Health Care Association.
       American Trucking Association.
       National Business Coalition on Health.
       National Cattlemen Association.
       Cessna Aircraft Co.
       Health Care Leadership Council.
       National Association of Health Underwriters.
       Business Coalition for Affordable Health Care.
       Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association.
       National Wheat Growers Association.
       Association of Private Pension and Welfare Plans.
       National Association for Home Care.
       Warner--Lambert.
       Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.
       C.I.G.N.A.
       American Managed Care and Review Association.
       United States Business and Industrial Council.

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, it is a very impressive group of businesses 
all across the country, farm groups all across the country, the 
National Wheat Growers Association. And we believe that they are 
approaching this issue in a bipartisan manner.
  So I urge my colleagues to not look at this as a Republican partisan 
effort. It is not a Republican partisan effort. It is another option.
  We did not know how to do it except to get as many Republicans as we 
could together and then reach out to our colleagues on the other side. 
We are in the process of doing that.
  I hope Members of the Senate and the House will take a close look at 
our proposal and call back to your home State and discuss the plan with 
your doctors, your hospitals, your small businessmen and women.
  I might also add, we are working closely with Congressman Rowland 
from Georgia and Congressman Bilirakis. Congressman Rowland is a 
Democrat and Congressman Bilirakis is a Republican. They have 36 
Democrats and Republicans on their proposal. We hope we can come 
together with their proposal and our proposal to make it truly 
bipartisan. If you look at this program in an objective way, you will 
understand it will make a positive difference and one you can be proud 
to support.

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