[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 102 (Friday, July 29, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    HEALTH CARE DEBATE IS NOT A GAME

  (Mr. OLVER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extent his remarks.)
  Mr. OLVER. Madam Speaker, newspaper headlines across the country 
treat health care reform as one big game. To the Wall Street Journal, 
``The stage is set for the health care battle.'' The New York Times is 
keeping score. ``Clinton wins one on health care.'' And the Washington 
Post calls health care ``an election issue.''
  Madam Speaker, our health care debate is not a game. It is about 
people. It is about people like the couple from a small town in 
Worcester County, MA, who last week responded to my survey on health 
reform.
  The woman pleads for health insurance that is affordable for 
everyone, this year, not 10 years from now, and with all employers 
paying a portion of employees' health care costs.
  Madam Speaker, they have put their house up for sale. Her husband is 
disabled, and they cannot afford to keep their home while paying a 
COBRA premium of $461 a month. They had to make a choice: Their home or 
their health.
  Madam Speaker, we are reforming care to save that couple their home.

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