[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 105 (Wednesday, August 3, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      MEMBERS URGED TO PASS HEALTH REFORM BEFORE THE AUGUST BREAK

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, last night I returned a phone 
call to a small businessman in my district. He called to urge me to 
vote for a health care bill that would provide relief for his small 
company. You see, Mr. Speaker, this gentleman has himself, with one 
part-time employee. After taxes and everything else he clears about 
$9,000 a year. He cannot afford to pay for health care for himself nor 
for his employee.
  I listened and I learned, and I believe that we are trying to 
respond. The bill we recently presented would help my small business 
constituents in Houston.
  The Guaranteed Health Insurance Act of 1994 will help low-wage small 
businesses who would otherwise have a difficult time making their 
paying for insurance in several ways.
  First, subsidies will be provided to small, low-wage businesses to 
reduce the amount they must contribute toward their workers premiums. 
In fact, businesses with 25 or fewer employees would be eligible for a 
subsidy of 50 percent.
  Second, community rating would keep premiums affordable when an 
employee gets sick.
  Third, there will be relief through changes made to workers 
compensation.
  It is time for serious policy, not cynical politics. If we really 
care about health security we will pass the health reform before we go 
home for our August break.
  We must stand up for what we believe in. We must stand up for the 
working families and struggling small businesses in our districts. We 
can make a difference by passing this bill.

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