[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 87 (Monday, July 10, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1304, QUALITY HEALTH-CARE COALITION 
                              ACT OF 2000

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                               speech of

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2000

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, in order to bring this bill up on the floor 
today, the rule had to waive all points of order that could be raised 
against it.
  Yesterday, we were on this same floor debating the creation of a 
Medicare Prescription drug benefit for seniors. Two-thirds of our 
seniors have no drug coverage whatsoever or have inadequate coverage--a 
Medicare drug benefit is a vital issue to them.
  Yet, the Republican leadership refused to grant us a waiver so that 
the Democratic bill--which created a real, defined Medicare drug 
benefit that would be dependable and available to all seniors across 
the country--could be equally debated with the Republican counterpart.
  Instead of allowing a real debate, they passed their sham bill that 
turns drug coverage for seniors over to the private insurance 
industry--the very same industry that refused to cover seniors in the 
past. It is a false promise to America's seniors.
  Here we are less than 24 hours later and we are waiving all points of 
order against a bill that won't do anything to help the millions of 
people who are lacking health insurance or prescription drug coverage. 
Not at all. This bill will help one profession with a very high 
income--doctors.
  Clearly, if you aren't among their monied friends, you don't get on 
to the floor of the House these days.
  If enacted, this bill would cost the Federal government some $1.7 
billion over five years in new outlays, and lose $2.5 billion in 
federal revenues over that same period. At the same time, it would cost 
consumers some $2.4 billion in increased insurance premiums because the 
effect of the anti-trust exemption is predicted to increase doctors' 
fees by some 15%.
  While I am sympathetic to providers' frustration with managed care's 
ever-growing control over our health care system, granting anti-trust 
exemption to health care providers is not the solution needed.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose the rule and if the rule passes to 
vote against H.R. 1304.

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