[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 96 (Thursday, July 21, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  THE IMPORTANCE OF UNIVERSAL COVERAGE

  (Mr. HAMBURG asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HAMBURG. Mr. Speaker, a report released by the Secretary of the 
Treasury this week shows that there are over 100,000 people without 
health insurance in my district; 85 percent of them are in working 
families and 22,000 are children.
  The President is right that incremental reforms alone will not work 
and could lead to more people uninsured. The only thing that will work 
is universl--100 percent--coverage. Only universal coverage will end 
the cost shifting and make health care affordable. Only universal 
coverage will make the insurance reforms work. Only universal coverage 
will protect middle-income families.
  Universal coverage is of critical importance to rural communities 
like those in my district. Providing uncompensated care to the millions 
of uninsured rural Americans is a major drain on the rural health care 
system. Universal coverage would provide the critical resources needed 
to stabilize and enhance rural health care delivery.

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