[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 88 (Tuesday, July 7, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S7606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              HEALTH CARE

 Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I am pleased to return to my 
Senate duties today after a relatively brief period of convalescence 
following by-pass surgery at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas 
Jefferson University, one of our nation's great medical institutions.
  This experience has again led me to marvel at our health care system 
and to make me more determined than ever to support federal funding for 
biomedical research and to make health care available to all Americans.
  At Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, I was 
the beneficiary of outstanding hospital care and a superbly qualified 
medical team headed by renowned cardiologist, Dr. Howard Weitz and 
distinguished surgeons Dr. Richard Edie and Dr. James Diehl. (Dr. Weitz 
has assisted me for many years going back to his student days when he 
volunteered for my campaign for Mayor of Philadelphia.)
  My concern about health care has long pre-dated my own personal 
benefits from the MRI and other diagnostic and curative procedures. My 
concern about health care began many years ago and has been intensified 
by my service on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and 
Human Services and Education which I now have the honor to chair.
  As the Record shows, I have introduced and cosponsored legislation 
going back to the 98th Congress designed to provide health care 
coverage to all Americans. Among my proposals were the Health Care Cost 
Containment Act of 1983 (S. 2051), the Community Based Disease 
Prevention and Health Promotion Projects Act of 1985 (S. 1873), the 
Health Care Affordability and Quality Improvement Act of 1992 (S. 
3176), the Comprehensive Health Care Act of 1993 (S. 18), the Health 
Care Assurance Acts of 1995 and 1997 (S. 18 and S. 24), and the Healthy 
Children's Pilot Program Act of 1997.
  In conjunction with the distinguished ranking member of the 
Subcommittee, Senator Tom Harkin, our Subcommittee has taken the lead 
to increase NIH funding from $11.3 billion in FY95 to $11.9 billion in 
FY96 to $12.7 billion in FY97 to $13.6 billion in FY98. This year we 
are targeting an increase of $2 billion which will be difficult 
considering the Subcommittee's other priorities; but, I think, 
attainable.
  I have long been convinced that our Federal budget of 
$1,700,000,000,000 could provide sufficient funding for America's needs 
if we establish our real priorities. The real question is whether we 
have enough doctors, hospitals, medical personnel, etc. to take care of 
Americans in need of medical attention. I am convinced that we do. The 
part which has yet to be accomplished is to work out the financing for 
the delivery of such health care. As specified in the legislation which 
I have introduced, I am convinced that sufficient savings are possible 
within the current system to provide health care to all Americans 
within the current expenditures.
  I return to the Senate today with renewed commitment that every 
American should have the quality medical care I had at Jefferson 
Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. In recognition of 
health care providers everywhere in America, I consider it appropriate 
to identify, compliment and thank members of the medical team which 
provided my superb medical care at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas 
Jefferson University:
  Dr. Stephen McNulty, Dr. Michael Savage, Dr. Herbert Patrick, Dr. 
Beckie Michael, Dr. Geno Merli, Dr. Arnold Greenspon, Dr. A. J. 
DiMarino, Dr. Rodney Bell, Dr. Phyllis Flomemerg and the following 
nurses: Leslie Amme, Grace Baillargeon, Tara Baldino, Jenna Briggs, 
Kathleen Bryan-Donahue, Susan Burton, Joanne Cannon, Mary Cavanaugh, 
Stephanie Cozzi, Danielle Delpais, Nancy Derivan, Linda Dib, Pam 
Dioguardo, Tim Dunn, Diane Ellingsworth, Robin Estadt, Marcia 
Gazdzinski, Debbie Granese, Karen Hartnett, Suzanne Henrick, Kelly 
Hollenbach, Charles Huckel, Suzanne James-Harmon, Leonida Josue-
Peralta, Eileen C. Kelly, Eileen M. Kelly, Matt Kuhar, Kate Kuhns, 
Tracey Lee, Hermie Lichtman, Esther Loyola, Debra Lynn-McHale, Ida 
Magee, Nancy McCash, Dennis McFadden, Kathy McGurk, Tricia McNichol, 
Mark Metropole, Michelle Munday, Tim Peal, Kellyanne Petrone, Don Rank, 
Tim Schultz, Margaret Shanks, Lori Smith, Meg Smith, Valerie Winn, Mina 
Yasuoka, Nancy Masterson, Wil Crew, Jason McConomy, Colleen Schuh, Bill 
Nicholl, Jackie Robinson, Karen Crisfulla, Elly Negron-Lopez, Pauline 
Heater, Diane Falk, Terry Meehan, Dolly Kowal, Dan Zaborowski, Joyce 
McGrory, Kathy Peterson, Patty Lynch, Rene Ekeland, Michelle Hellstem, 
Barb Salapata, Kathy Byrne, Erin Moran, Marlowe Macapagal, Cindy 
Miller, Susan Cook, Angela Dages, Nicki Hoffman, Bill Hepner, Chuck 
O'Toole, Dan Cifelle, Rose Shaffer, Selina Frazier and Mary 
Seals.

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