[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 132 (Monday, October 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H9246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REPUBLICANS DO LITTLE OR NOTHING ON ISSUES THAT CONCERN THE AMERICAN 
                                 PEOPLE

  (Mr. DOGGETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, this term, do-nothing Democrats, is a 
curious term to me. As best I remember, the Republicans have a majority 
in this House, the Republicans have a majority in the United States 
Senate; and yet they have been unable to complete their work. We have 
begun this new Federal fiscal year without the necessary appropriations 
acts and they have yet to even present one of the largest of those 
appropriations acts for our consideration. Likewise, they have produced 
so far this year, perhaps, the most unique set of legislative 
accomplishments largely centering on naming a few places and buildings 
and memorial coins and doing little or nothing on the real issues that 
concern the American people.
  One of those real issues is having a true patients' bill of rights 
for those in managed health care. With consideration of important 
consumer legislation delayed this month after month, week after week, 
we will finally this week have an opportunity to provide Americans some 
real protection with a genuine patients' bill of rights. That is what 
Democratic efforts, joined with a handful of Republicans who were 
willing to buck their leadership to stand up for the rights of ordinary 
Americans against mismanaged care, can accomplish.
  Give us a Democratic majority, and my colleagues will really see what 
Democrats can do to address health care and other concerns of American 
Families.

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