[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
  A GOOD FIRST STEP TOWARD MEANINGFUL HEALTH CARE REFORM IN THE 104TH 
                                CONGRESS

                                 ______


                           HON. TERRY EVERETT

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 1994

  Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, to be certain, health care reform is dead 
for the 103d Congress. Although I have withheld my official support for 
H.R. 3955, the original Rowland-Bilirakis health care plan, I feel 
compelled to cosponsor this legislation before we adjourn. I do this 
with the hope that this bill will serve as the focus for the health 
care debate in the next Congress. I believe that H.R. 3955 is a good 
first step toward meaningful health care reform for the American 
people.
  With its focus on key elements that include the portability of 
benefits, the removal of preexisting condition exceptions, other 
insurance reforms, malpractice reform, and antitrust reform, H.R. 3955 
would make significant positive improvements to our current health care 
system, which I feel that most Americans would agree is the best in the 
world. I am especially pleased to support this bill in light of the 
Congressional Budget Office's favorable assessment of the bipartisan 
health care compromise unveiled in August, which has many provisions 
similar to H.R. 3955. The CBO concluded that the bill, which is free 
from new Government bureaucracies and job-killing employer mandates, 
would result in $65 billion in deficit reduction and would extend 
coverage to 92 percent of Americans.
  The CBO findings further confirm my firm belief that we can improve 
our health care system without skyrocketing our Federal deficit or 
putting Federal bureaucrats in between patients and physicians. When 
the 104th Congress convenes in January, I would encourage my colleagues 
to take a close look at H.R. 3955 as a sound basis for health care 
reform. We owe it to the American people to take a commonsense approach 
to health care reform that will not jeopardize the outstanding level of 
care and choice that exists in our present system.

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