[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 27, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H22]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      WISE INVESTMENTS IN AMERICA

  (Mr. DOGGETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, Americans are focused on the President 
right now, but it is important that they focus as well on the agenda 
that he will be outlining here this evening.
  As we finally resolve the budget deficit, it is time to direct our 
attention and our energy to other deficits that exist in this land: 
Deficits in child care, deficits in our schools, deficits in health 
care and in our transportation system. Too many Americans approach the 
age of their 50s or 60s without the security of health insurance. They 
risk losing all that they have worked for with a health care emergency. 
They get downsized and down and out when it comes to health insurance 
and protection against a health care emergency.
  The President has properly advanced the notion of expanding and 
strengthening Medicare, and providing all of us, regardless of age, a 
health care consumer Bill of Rights. Likewise, as we made progress last 
session on higher education, this session we should be devoting our 
attention to strengthening the public education system and to 
recognizing that one of the best ways to back up families is to provide 
them the child care resources, through our tax system and otherwise, to 
back up their efforts. These would be wise investments in America.

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