[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 107 (Friday, August 5, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                              HEALTH CARE

  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, earlier today during an exchange on the 
Senate floor on the subject of health care, the distinguished 
Republican leader referred to comments made by Governor Cuomo of New 
York about health care legislation.
  I was unaware of the comments that had been made, and following those 
remarks, I called to inquire. In response to my inquiry, Governor Cuomo 
of New York sent me a letter, with copies to Senators Dole and 
Moynihan.
  I ask unanimous consent that the letter be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

     Hon. George J. Mitchell,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Leader: I am writing to applaud your efforts to 
     advance the cause of national health care reform. I know how 
     long and how hard you have worked to make health care 
     coverage available to all Americans, and I want to make clear 
     that I support your efforts to reform the health care system 
     and work towards universal coverage. As you may know, I 
     originally voiced some concern about the effect on your plan 
     on New York. These concerns were based on the preliminary 
     reports of your plan. However, based upon review of the 
     legislative language that we received today, I am gratified 
     to see that the bill makes significant progress in addressing 
     a number of New York's concerns.
       I look forward to working with you and others who believe 
     in meaningful health care reform. Together, I am sure that we 
     will be able to achieve significant change in health care for 
     New Yorkers and the nation.
           Sincerely,
                                                            Mario.

  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, as I said earlier today, we will, next 
week, begin a very important debate. I think this incident illustrates 
the importance of all of us in keeping an open mind, trying to 
understand the other person's point of view, and trying to develop 
legislation that improves the lives of American families.
  We come from different States, we represent different parties, but 
our highest obligation is to the American people. I hope that we can 
conduct a meaningful and high-level debate that will focus not on 
personalities but on issues, not on parties but on our people, and that 
we will measure our actions by one test and one test alone: what is in 
the best interest of the American people? That is ultimately why we 
were elected. It is ultimately why we serve.
  I encourage my colleagues to study the issues carefully, review the 
bills carefully, debate vigorously. There are reasonable and principled 
differences of opinion. But I am convinced that, in the end, if we meet 
our obligation with honor, we can do what is right and best for the 
American people. That is my objective, that is my standard, and that is 
what I hope, in the end, all Senators will do.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________