[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 46 (Friday, March 29, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H3211-H3212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE HEALTH COVERAGE AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Fox] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to my 
colleagues about two items.
  First, I wish to congratulate the House on the passage last evening 
of H.R. 3103, the Health Coverage Availability and Affordability Act. 
For the first time in this Congress we have passed legislation which 
will provide for 25 million Americans at least accessibility, 
affordability, and accountability in health insurance.
  This legislation in its most pertinent parts provides portability. If 
you lose your job, you take the insurance with you. If you get a new 
job, you will take that insurance with you.
  It also makes sure that no matter what preexisting medical condition 
you may have, you still qualify for health insurance.
  It increases deductibility from 30 percent to 50 percent for the 
self-employed who provide health coverage for themselves and their 
employees. It will allow small businesses group coverage of insurance, 
will also provide medical savings accounts.
  I am very hopeful the Senate will agree. This legislation is forward-
thinking and positive.


                        tribute to charles reed

  Mr. Speaker, I want to make a tribute to a fallen hero. U.S. FBI 
agent Charles Reed of my district was gunned down last Friday trying to 
do his job to win the war against drugs, and for 16 years served the 
people of the tristate area of Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, in 
making sure we eliminate the scourge of drugs in our country.
  One of the most successful agents in the history of the country, he 
found leads where no one else could even tell there was evidence 
lurking, and he

[[Page H3212]]

brought whole cartels of drug dealers down in his work, and he was 
dedicated. Every day he worked the longest hours, did the best job, and 
as Louis Freeh said, the FBI Director who came to his funeral in 
Montgomery County, PA, this week, he said this was a fallen hero, a man 
who is a role model for all FBI agents. He was the first FBI agent to 
be killed from the Philadelphia area in the history of the department. 
He is someone who is a great loss because he was a wonderful father, a 
loving husband, and a great community leader, and he epitomizes for me 
what is great about America.
  The war against drugs will go on, and there will be awards named in 
his honor because as an American hero, I salute him, this Congress 
salutes him, and a grateful Nation says we will keep the fight up, we 
will prevail, because of the agents like Chuck Reed, who really make a 
difference and their lives have meant so much to so many. God bless 
you, Chuck Reed.

                          ____________________