[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 108 (Monday, August 8, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, realizing that, at this moment, important 
decisions are being made on the health program of the United States, 
being from Hawaii, the present debate surprises me, because, as you may 
know, Mr. President, for the past 20 years, Hawaii has had a health 
program of universal coverage. All of our citizens have had health 
coverage for the past 20 years, with portability. If you leave a job 
and go to another job, you do not have to worry about losing your 
insurance coverage, because that coverage will follow you.
  It is true that, in the early days, there were those who were quite 
critical, because it called for a rather controversial element--
employer mandate. Our program is financed by employees and employers 
paying for the premium.
  And, finally, may I just note the following: Hawaii is a beautiful 
place, but I think all of us realize that the cost of living in Hawaii 
is about the highest in the United States All of our goods have to be 
either flown in or shipped in by transport ships, so there is this 
extra cost of transportation.
  Added to this is the fact that we are insular, so the land area is 
limited. The cost of real estate is almost unbelievable. Here in 
Maryland, you would get a beautiful residential parcel for something 
the equivalent of $2 a square foot. In Hawaii, comparable real estate 
would cost you about $15 a square foot. As a result, the cost of a new 
home in Hawaii, the average cost, exceeds $230,000.
  Everything is high, with the exception of one thing. The cost to 
small business for health insurance coverage is about 30 percent lower 
than the national average. Everything is high but the cost of health 
insurance. Why? Because we have universal coverage. Why? Because we 
have employer mandate.
  And I am proud to say that the Hawaiian politicians had the guts to 
face this, to address this problem, and to adopt a program that 
benefits all of us. I hope that my colleagues in the U.S. Congress will 
have equal courage to face up to the facts. I think 50 years of debate 
is long enough. The time has come to act.
  Mr. President, reluctantly, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Akaka). The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________