[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H6514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HEALTH CARE REFORM: COMMONSENSE ANSWERS FOR AMERICA'S HEALTH CARE NEEDS

  (Mrs. KELLY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage our colleagues to 
join me in calling on the Senate to pass our commonsense health care 
reforms now. These are reasonable changes like portability, 
affordability, and most of all, accessibility.
  Portability is within this Congress' grasp. And here our reforms can 
end job lock, giving tens of thousands of Americans the opportunity to 
maintain their health care coverage, without sacrificing their careers.
  Second, by allowing individuals tax-free medical savings accounts, 
expanding the health insurance deduction for the self-employed and 
introducing tax incentives to promote long-term care coverage, we are 
helping people help themselves.
  But finally, Mr. Speaker, this Congress has the opportunity to end 
the preexisting conditions exclusion, which keeps more than 20 million 
Americans from the coverage they need.
  One of these is, in fact, one of my own family. They have a full time 
job and pay their taxes. Yet, because of a condition that they 
developed, they cannot secure the health care coverage that they need 
and want.
  I can assure you, Mr. Speaker, that when we cast our final votes on 
this package, it will be these three commonsense reforms, portability, 
affordability, and accessibility, that will be foremost in the minds of 
all Americans.

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