[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3103, HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND 
                       ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1996

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. GARY A. FRANKS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 1996

  Mr. FRANKS of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
support for the conference report to H.R. 3103, the Health Coverage 
Availability and Affordability Act. Passage of this conference report 
will ensure that Americans have access to health care coverage.
  The conference report before us will bring about much needed reform 
to the insurance industry. It address such important issues as 
portability and pre-existing conditions. Individuals will no longer 
have to remain in a job they do not like in order to maintain insurance 
coverage. The portability provisions will ensure that individuals will 
not lose their coverage if they get sick.
  The conference report also contains a 4-year demonstration project 
for tax deductible medical savings accounts for small business, the 
self employed, and the uninsured. The medical savings accounts will put 
the individual in charge of his or her health coverage.
  Another important provisions of the conference report is the self-
employment deduction for health insurance expenses. Under this 
provision the self-employed will be able to deduct a certain percentage 
of their health insurance expenses from their taxes. The deductible 
will increase from 30 percent to 80 percent in 2006.
  Mr. Speaker, the time has come to enact meaningful reform of our 
insurance industry. This conference report does that. It is the result 
of many weeks of bipartisan negotiations. The provisions contained in 
this report will enable the American people to feel confident about 
their insurance coverage, while at the same time keeping it affordable. 
I urge my colleagues to support passage of this conference report.

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