[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H9568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CONGRESS REFORMS HEALTH CARE AND WELFARE THIS WEEK

  (Mr. GANSKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GANSKE. Mr. Speaker, today we take up the Health Insurance 
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This bill is long overdue. 
The American people have demanded this kind of change for many years. 
We will provide genuine health care reform, expand accessibility, 
ensure portability, and all without a Government takeover of the health 
care sector.
  This bill fights fraud and abuse, it allows the self-employed to 
increase their health care deductible, it establishes medical savings 
accounts, and it provides deductions for long-term care.
  This is a win-win proposal for the American people. We will provide 
expanded health care coverage without creating huge new bureaucracies. 
In fact, we will give more power to individuals to make their own 
decisions on health insurance.
  Mr. Speaker, the debate gets pretty hot sometimes, but this week 
alone we will have reformed health care and welfare. I want to salute 
my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have helped make this the 
most productive Congress in a generation.

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