[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 84 (Wednesday, June 24, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H5069]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      AMERICA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, have my colleagues heard the 
response, no room at the inn? That is what we are getting with the 
health system in America. HMOs, no room at the inn, no room in the 
emergency room, no hospital bed, no ability to get surgery, no ability 
to stay in the hospital because one needs to.
  Republicans are about to unveil their own do-nothing legislative 
proposals to address the crisis of teen smoking and managed care 
reform, but these proposals are not solutions. They are a fig leaf to 
hide their do-nothing proposals. Instead of supporting real life 
problems, these programs really apply and listen to the special 
interests.
  That is why I am listening to those who cannot get into hospital 
beds, who are turned away from emergency rooms, whose children are not 
diagnosed because we have to call up the HMO to get approval.
  We are also going to listen to children today. Three thousand of them 
start smoking every day, and 1,000 of them will die from smoking. We 
will have a hearing today to listen to the teenagers of America tell us 
why we need to pass a bill, a tobacco bill to reform this system, to 
improve the health system, and to make sure that we do stand on the 
correct side of legislative history; that is, supporting those who need 
good health care and to stop tobacco from attacking our children.

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