[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 23 (Thursday, February 27, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            EXPANDING HEALTH INSURANCE FOR AMERICAN CHILDREN

  (Mr. LAMPSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, as a father and also a Member of this body, 
I rise to add my voice to those leaders of my party who yesterday 
called upon the majority to work in this session toward expanding 
health insurance for American children. When we know that 10 million 
American children have no health coverage, I wonder why the majority 
leadership of this body needs to be asked to make this pressing need 
for American families a priority.
  Mr. Speaker, our economy is changing and unfortunately too many new 
jobs do not offer health insurance for workers' families and workers' 
children. Ninety percent of these uninsured children's parents work. I 
was proud to participate in the introduction of the families first 
agenda last year when I was a candidate for this office. That agenda 
addresses the real needs of our families and if made into law would 
make health coverage available to those families. Those are the 
priorities of the people of the Ninth District of Texas and that they 
elected me to fight for. It may not be popular inside the beltway but 
if we want to rebuild the trust of the American people in this 
institution, those are the priorities both parties should share.

                          ____________________