[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 104 (Tuesday, August 2, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    UNIVERSAL CARE MUST BE UNIVERSAL

  (Mr. FARR of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, whenever I have used the word 
``universal'' or whenever I have heard the word ``universal,'' I have 
always assumed this word meant not ``some,'' not ``most'' and not ``as 
many as possible.''
  To me the word ``universal'' means one thing: it means ``all.''
  We cannot pass a health care plan that covers only ``some'' or covers 
``most'' or covers ``as many as possible.''
  We must pass a health care plan that covers ``all.'' To do less is to 
condemn those who are not part of the ``some'' or part of the ``most'' 
or part of the ``as many as possible'' to a life of indeterminate 
health care, exposure to disease and illness, and a constant fear of 
accidental injury with no way to repair or pay for the hurt.
  In my own district, there are 118,000 persons without health 
insurance.
  These are not people who are loafers. These are not people who live 
off the dole. Almost 85 percent of these people are working men and 
women, people who work hard for their daily bread, yet cannot afford to 
see a doctor when they get sick.
  This is wrong. And I for one am not willing to go to these people and 
say, ``Hey, guess what, we passed health care reform and it covers just 
about everyone, but not you.''
  Mr. Speaker, universal care means universal. It means all. It can 
mean no less than everyone.

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