[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 135 (Thursday, October 7, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2066]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               QUALITY CARE FOR THE UNINSURED ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 6, 1999

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in supporting 
this bill that addresses the problem of the rising number of Americans 
who cannot afford health insurance. Under this plan, we will be able to 
extend health care options to the 44 million people in our country who 
remain uninsured.
  We know that most people without health insurance have one thing in 
common: they cannot afford health care. They are either self-employed 
or they work in a small business that cannot afford to pay for health 
benefits.
  The Quality Care for the Uninsured Act creates Association Health 
Plans to combat the high cost of health care in our country. Small 
businesses and self-employers will now have the ability to join 
together under the umbrella of trade and professional organizations to 
buy health insurance for themselves and their employees.
  Association Health Plans will bring more choices and greater 
flexibility to those who need it most. Estimates show that small 
businesses will save between 10 and 20 percent on health care costs 
with Association Health Plans. By cutting costs, we can expand health 
care coverage for the millions of hard-working Americans that are 
currently uninsured.
  I commend Representative Talent and Representative Shadegg for their 
dedication to this important issue, and I urge my colleagues to support 
this bill.

                          ____________________