[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 106 (Thursday, August 4, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      SMALL BUSINESS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES NEED UNIVERSAL COVERAGE

  (Mrs. CLAYTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, as we continue the debate on health care, 
I hope we will have reason rather than fear. I want to raise a question 
as it relates to the rural community.
  Mr. Speaker, much has been discussed about the impact of small 
business and the rural community. First, what will happen?
  First, Mr. Speaker, I think it needs to be shared. There are many 
small businesses that are already now providing health insurance for 
their employees. What is happening to that insurance; it is far too 
high, and oftentimes that health care is only the bare bones.
  What will happen as a result of health care reform: First, they will 
have low costs for their employees' coverage and better costs. Second, 
there are indeed large numbers of small business who are not providing 
health insurance in rural communities.
  What will happen to those communities; obviously their citizens will 
get coverage. The costs that are involved, it should be noted, will be 
offset by subsidies to small businesses. Furthermore, the employees who 
are low-wage persons also will have offset.
  Mr. Speaker, universal coverage is the only way to ensure quality 
control and cost control for small business. We need this for small 
business and rural communities.

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