[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 1, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H4309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS A GOOD IDEA

  (Mr. McCOLLUM asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I must respond to the gentlewoman's 
comments about the medical savings accounts. I happen to think they are 
a terrific idea for families in America. They are the one way in the 
future, with all of the costs we have associated with health care, that 
a moderate income family in the United States can save money. If we 
adopt it, they will be able to still choose their own doctor and not be 
forced into an HMO or another organized plan.
  I have very, very strong convictions about that. I think this is the 
most innovative and creative thing to help health care in the United 
States that is under consideration today at all. I really feel that 
that is a very important thing.
  I want to consider one other point during this 1-minute, though. When 
we are talking about these gas prices going up right now, I am told by 
those involved that one of the primary reasons that the gas prices in 
this country are going up is because there is uncertainty about whether 
the U.N. sanctions against Iraq will be lifted or not. We should be 
opposed to that.
  This administration, the Clinton administration, should make it 
unequivocally clear that we will veto in the United Nations any effort 
to lift the oil embargo and allow people to purchase Iraqi oil. I think 
once that is done, stability will return to the oil prices in the world 
market and we will see the gas prices go back to their normal way 
again.
  This President needs to make that statement now. He has not made it.

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