[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 99 (Wednesday, July 26, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7660-S7663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Daschle, Mr. 
        Moynihan, Mr. L. Chafee, Ms. Collins, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Baucus, 
        Mr. Breaux, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Graham, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Kerrey, Mr. 
        Robb, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Schumer, and 
        Mr. Leahy):
  S. 2923. A bill to amend title XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act 
to provide for FamilyCare coverage for parents of enrolled children, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.


                      the family care act of 2000

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I am pleased to announce the introduction 
of the Family Care Act of 2000, which takes the next logical step in 
assuring access by as many citizens as possible to affordable health 
insurance. I commend Congressman John Dingell and the rest of our 
colleagues for their fine work in crafting this legislation.
  The number of uninsured Americans is now more than 44 million, and 
the figure is rising by an average of one million a year. America is 
the only industrial country in the world, except South Africa, that 
fails to guarantee health care for all it citizens.
  It is a national scandal that lack of insurance coverage is the 
seventh leading--and most preventable--cause of death in America today.
  Three years ago, we worked together to create CHIP, the federal-state 
Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides coverage to 
children in families with incomes too high for Medicaid and too low to 
afford private health insurance.
  More than two million children have been enrolled in that program, 
and millions more have signed up for Medicaid as a result of outreach 
activities. Soon, more than three-quarters of all uninsured children in 
the nation will be eligible for assistance through either CHIP or 
Medicaid.
  But, despite this progress, the parents of these children, and too 
many others, have been left behind. The time has come to take the next 
step.
  The overwhelming majority of uninsured low-wage parents are 
struggling to support their families. I will ask unanimous consent to 
insert a statement in the Record from Patricia Quezada, a parent of 
three lovely girls, who would benefit from this legislation.
  Parents who work hard, 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, should be 
eligible for assistance to buy the health insurance they need in order 
to protect their families. Our message to them today is that help is on 
the way.
  Often, they work for companies which don't offer insurance, or they 
aren't eligible for insurance that is offered. Fewer than a quarter of 
the jobs taken by those who have been forced off the welfare rolls by 
welfare reform offer insurance as a benefit--and even when it is 
offered too few companies make it available for dependents. The time 
has come to take the next step.
  The Family Care Act of 2000 will provide with the resources, 
incentives and authority to extend Medicaid and CHIP to the parents of 
children covered under those programs.
  Coverage for parents also means better coverage for children. Parents 
are much more likely to enroll their children in health insurance, if 
the parents themselves can have coverage, too.
  This step alone will give to six and a half million Americans the 
coverage they need and deserve.
  The Family Care Act will also improve the outreach and enrollment for 
CHIP and Medicaid, and encourage states to extend coverage to other 
vulnerable population, such as pregnant women, legal immigrants, and 
children ages 19 and 20.
  This program is affordable under current and projected budget 
surpluses. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the cost will 
be $11 billion over the next five years.
  Last Monday, a majority of the Senate voted in favor of this proposal 
as an amendment to the marriage penalty bill. We needed 60 votes, so it 
was not successful then, but we clearly have a bipartisan majority of 
the Senate.
  The bottom line is that we have the resources to take this needed 
step, and

[[Page S7661]]

end the suffering and uncertainty that accompanies being uninsured.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that statements and letters of 
support for this legislation be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:


              statement of patricia quezada, july 21, 2000

       Good morning. I am Patricia Quezada. I am a mother of three 
     girls (ages 9, 8 and 5). I work as a part-time parent liaison 
     at Weyanoke Elementary School in Fairfax, Virginia. My 
     husband is a self-employed general contractor. Because my 
     husband is self-employed and I work part-time, our family 
     does not have access to health insurance through our jobs.
       In the past, we were able to purchase private insurance 
     that covered our family. But, in recent times, our family has 
     been unable to afford the high rates because it came down to 
     either paying for our home, transportation and other 
     necessities--including food--or purchasing this costly 
     insurance. On two occasions, the coverage was cancelled 
     because we were unable to meet the payments, which were 
     required in advance.
       It was such a relief that my children are now able to 
     receive coverage through Medicaid and CMSIP, Virginia's SCHIP 
     Program. (As a parent-liaison, part of my job has been to 
     help other families sign up their children for health 
     insurance.) I feel extremely fortunate that my children are 
     now covered in case of an illness or accident, however I 
     continue to fear what could happen if my husband or I fall 
     sick or have an injury. While we both do our best to take 
     care of our health, we know how important it is to have 
     health insurance coverage if we should need it.
       Thank you.
                                  ____



                                      Children's Defense Fund,

                                    Washington, DC, July 21, 2000.
     Hon. Edward M. Kennedy,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Kennedy: We are taking this opportunity to 
     thank you for introducing the FamilyCare Act of 2000 and to 
     express the strong support of the Children's Defense Fund for 
     this bipartisan initiative to provide and strengthen health 
     care coverage for uninsured children and their parents. 
     Building on the successes of Medicaid and the Children's 
     Health Insurance Program (CHIP), this legislation will 
     increase coverage for uninsured children, provide funding for 
     health insurance coverage for the uninsured parents of 
     Medicaid and CHIP-eligible children, and simplify the 
     enrollment process for Medicaid and CHIP to make the programs 
     more family friendly.
       We want to extent our appreciation to Senators Chafee, 
     Collins, Daschle, Lautenberg, Rockefeller, and Snowe for co-
     sponsoring this legislation in the Senate and to 
     Representatives Dingell, Stark,  and Waxman for taking the 
     lead on this proposal in the House. We look forward to 
     working with you for passage of the FamilyCare Act of 2000.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Gregg Haifley,
     Deputy Director Health Division.
                                  ____

                                           National Association of


                                         Children's Hospitals,

                                    Alexandria, VA, July 21, 2000.
     Hon. Edward Kennedy,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Kennedy: On behalf of the National Association 
     of Children's Hospital (N.A.C.H.), which represents over 100 
     children's hospitals nationwide, I want to express our strong 
     support for your introduction of the ``FamilyCare Act of 
     2000.''
       As providers of care to all children, regardless of their 
     economic status, children's hospitals devote nearly half of 
     their patient care to children who rely on Medicaid or are 
     uninsured, and more than three-fourths of their patient-care 
     to children with chronic and congenital conditions. These 
     hospitals have extensive experience in assisting families to 
     enroll eligible children in Medicaid and SCHIP. They are 
     keenly aware of the importance of addressing the challenges 
     that states face in enrolling this often hard to reach 
     population of eligible children.
       In particular, N.A.C.H. appreciates and strongly supports 
     your efforts to simplify and coordinate the application 
     process for SCHIP and Medicaid, as well as to provide new 
     tools for states to use in identifying and enrolling 
     families. In addition, N.A.C.H. applauds your provisions that 
     set a higher bar for covering children by: (1) requiring 
     states to first cover children up to 200% of poverty and 
     eliminating waiting lists in the SCHIP program before 
     covering parents; and (2) requiring every child who loses 
     coverage under Medicaid or SCHIP to be automatically screened 
     for other avenues of eligibility and if found eligible, 
     enrolled immediately in that program.
       N.A.C.H. also supports your legislation's provision to give 
     states additional flexibility under SCHIP and Medicaid to 
     cover legal immigrant children. In states with high 
     proportions of uninsured children, such as California, Texas 
     and Florida, the federal government's bar on coverage of 
     legal immigrant children helps contribute to the fact that 
     Hispanic children represent the highest rate of uninsured 
     children of all major racial and ethnic minority groups. Your 
     provision to ensure coverage of legal immigrant children 
     would be extremely useful in improving this situation.
       N.A.C.H. greatly appreciates all that you have done 
     throughout your years of service, and continue to do, to 
     provide all children with the best possible chance at 
     starting out and staying healthy. We welcome and look forward 
     to working with you to pass the ``FamilyCare Act of 2000.''
           Sincerely,
     Lawrence A. McAndrews.
                                  ____

                                                   March of Dimes,


                                     Birth Defects Foundation,

                                    Washington, DC, July 21, 2000.
     Hon. Edward Kennedy,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Kennedy: On behalf of more than 3 million 
     volunteers and 1600 staff members of the March of Dimes, I 
     want to commend you for introducing the ``FamilyCare Act of 
     2000.'' The March of Dimes is committed to increasing access 
     to appropriate and affordable health care for women, infants 
     and children and supports the targeted approach to expanding 
     the State Children's Health Insurance Program contained in 
     the FamilyCare proposal.
       The ``FamilyCare Act of 2000'' contains a number of 
     beneficial provisions that would expand and improve SCHIP. 
     The March of Dimes strongly supports giving states the option 
     to cover low-income pregnant women in Medicaid and SCHIP 
     programs with an enhanced matching rate. We understand that 
     FamilyCare would allow states to cover uninsured parents of 
     children enrolled in Medicaid and SCHIP as well as uninsured 
     first-time pregnant women. SCHIP is the only major federally-
     funded program that denies coverage to pregnant women while 
     providing coverage to their infants and children. We know 
     prenatal care improves birth outcomes. Expanding health 
     insurance coverage for low-income pregnant women has 
     bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.
       The March of Dimes also supports FamilyCare provisions to 
     require automatic enrollment of children born to SCHIP 
     parents; automatic screening of every child who loses 
     coverage under Medicaid or SCHIP to determine eligibility for 
     other health programs; and distribution of information on the 
     availability of Medicaid and SCHIP through the school lunch 
     program. The March of Dimes also supports giving states the 
     option to provide Medicaid and SCHIP benefits to children and 
     pregnant women who arrived legally to the United States after 
     August 23, 1996, and to people ages 19 and 20.
       We thank you for your leadership in introducing the 
     ``FamilyCare Act of 2000'' and are eager to work with you to 
     achieve approval of this much needed legislation.
           Sincerely,
     Anna Eleanor Roosevelt,
       Vice Chair, Board of Trustees; Chair, Public Affairs 
     Committee.
     Dr. Jennifer L. Howse,
       Presdient.
                                  ____

                                       Association of Maternal and


                                        Child Health Programs,

                                    Washington, DC, July 20, 2000.
     Hon. Edward Kennedy,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Kennedy: On behalf of the Association of 
     Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP), I am writing to 
     express our support of the FamilyCare Act of 2000. We are 
     particularly supportive of the provisions that allow states 
     to include pregnant women in their SCHIP and Medicaid 
     programs.
       We are also pleased with the provisions giving states the 
     flexibility to expand outreach activities as well as moving 
     towards greater equity in program payments.
       AMCHP represents state officials in 59 states and 
     territories who administer public health programs aimed at 
     improving the health of all women, children, and adolescents. 
     In 1997, over 22 million women, children, adolescents and 
     children with special health care needs received services, 
     which were supported by the Maternal and Child Health Block 
     Grant.
       We look forward to working with you and your staff on this 
     bill.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Deborah Dietrich,
     Director of Legislative Affairs.
                                  ____

                                                   American Dental


                                        Hygienist Association,

                                    Washington, DC, July 24, 2000.
     Hon. Edward M. Kennedy,
     Hon. Jay Rockefeller,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senators Kennedy and Rockefeller: on behalf of the 
     American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA), I write to 
     express ADHA's support for the principles espoused in the 
     Family Care Act of 2000. This legislation is an important 
     step toward the goal of meaningful health insurance coverage, 
     including oral health insurance coverage, for all children 
     and their parents.
       Regretfully, there is room for much improvement in our 
     children's oral health, a fundamental part of total health. 
     Studies show that oral disease currently afflicts the 
     majority of children in our country. Dental caries (tooth 
     decay), gingivitis, and periodontitis (gum and bone 
     disorders) are the most common oral diseases. The Public 
     Health Service reports that 50% of all children in the United 
     States experience dental caries in their permanent teeth and 
     two-thirds experience gingivitis.

[[Page S7662]]

       The percentages of children with dental disease are likely 
     far higher for the traditionally underserved Medicaid-
     eligible population and for those eligible for the State 
     Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). For example, one 
     of the most severe forms of gum disease--localized juvenile 
     periodontitis--disproportionately affects teenage African-
     American males and can result in the loss of all teeth before 
     adulthood. If untreated, gum disease causes pain, bleeding, 
     loss of function, diminished appearance, possible systemic 
     infections, bone deterioration and eventual loss of teeth. 
     Yet, each of the three most common oral health disorders--
     dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis--can be 
     prevented through the type of regular preventive care 
     provided by dental hygienists.
       Despite the known benefits of preventive oral health 
     services and the inclusion of oral health benefits in 
     Medicaid's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and 
     Treatment (EPSDT) program, only one in 5 (4.2 million out of 
     21.2 million) Medicaid-eligible children actually received 
     preventive oral health services in 1993 according to a 1996 
     U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report entitled 
     Children's Dental Services Under Medicaid: Access and 
     Utilization.
       The nation simply must improve access to oral health 
     services and your legislation is an important building block 
     for all who care about our children's oral health, a 
     fundamental part of general health and well-being.
       We in the dental hygiene community look forward to working 
     together toward our shared goal of health insurance coverage 
     for all of our nation's families. Please feel free to call 
     upon me or ADHA's Washington Counsel, Karen Sealander of 
     McDermott, Will & Emery (202-756-8024), at any time.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Stanley B. Peck,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____



                                                 Premier Inc.,

                                    Washington, DC, July 21, 2000.
     Hon. Edward M. Kennedy,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, D.C.
       Dear Senator Kennedy: On behalf of Premier Inc., I am 
     writing to applaud your introduction of the ``FamilyCare Act 
     of 2000'' and express our strong support. Premier is a 
     strategic alliance of leading not-for-profit hospitals and 
     health systems across the nation. Premier provides group 
     purchasing and other services for more than 1,800 hospitals 
     and healthcare facilities.
       As reported by the Urban Institute in the July/August issue 
     of Health Affairs, the population of non-elderly uninsured 
     grew by 4.2 million between 1994 and 1998. This hike in the 
     rate of uninsured occurred among children and adults. In the 
     same period, Medicaid coverage fell from 10 to 8.4 percent, 
     or about 3.1 million persons (1.9 million children and 1.2 
     million adults). Your legislation confronts and seeks to 
     address these disturbing trends head on.
       The FamilyCare Act of 2000 not only expands coverage to 
     children--it also enables states to provide health insurance 
     to parents of children enrolled in CHIP and Medicaid. The 
     bill creates new opportunities for states to cover immigrant 
     children and pregnant women, and provides for the automatic 
     coverage of children born to CHIP-enrolled parents, thereby 
     enhancing presumptive eligibility.
       This legislation provides for the mutual reinforcement of 
     the Medicaid and CHIP programs by integrating eligibility 
     determination and outreach efforts. A standard application 
     form and simple enrollment process for both programs will 
     raise the participation rate for both programs. Finally, the 
     bill provides grants to support broader outreach activities 
     and employer subsidies to offer health insurance packages, 
     thereby encouraging joint public/private market innovations 
     to reduce the population of uninsured.
       Stifling the growth in the rate of uninsured and reversing 
     the trend remain a top priority for the hospital community. 
     Securing the appropriate preventative care for these 
     individuals will improve the quality and cost-effectiveness 
     of further care, as the uninsured are more likely to be 
     hospitalized for medical conditions that, initially, could 
     have been managed with physician care and/or medication.
       Thank you for taking the lead in addressing the problem of 
     America's uninsured. We look forward to working with you 
     toward enactment of this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                        Kerb Kuhn,
     Vice President, Advocacy.
                                  ____



                                                 Families USA,

                                    Washington, DC, July 17, 2000.
     Hon. Edward M. Kennedy,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Kennedy: We congratulate you on the 
     introduction of your bill, the Family Care Act of 2000, which 
     gives states the option to provide parents of children 
     enrolled in the Medicaid and CHIP programs with health 
     insurance. We believe that your bill is a crucial next step 
     in addressing the problem of our nation's uninsured, and we 
     offer our unequivocal support.
       By covering parents through CHIP, the Family Care Act could 
     provide health insurance to over four million previously 
     uninsured Americans. We believe this is a cost-effective and 
     efficient way to provide quality healthcare to low- and 
     moderate-income working families. Children of CHIP-enrolled 
     parents will be automatically enrolled at birth, but, equally 
     importantly, research has shown that children are more likely 
     to have health coverage when their parents are insured. This 
     means that the Family Care Act could, in effect, cover many 
     more Americans than the estimated four million. Additionally, 
     the expansion of coverage to legal immigrant children and 
     pregnant women addresses the needs of two particularly 
     vulnerable groups.
       Again, we applaud your ongoing leadership in tackling the 
     problem of the uninsured, and we support this important 
     legislation. Please let us know how we can help you to enact 
     this bill into law.
           Sincerely,
                                                Ronald F. Pollack,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____



                                American Hospital Association,

                                    Washington, DC, July 21, 2000.
     Hon. Edward M. Kennedy,
     Ranking Member, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
         Pensions, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.
       Dear Senator Kennedy: The American Hospital Association 
     (AHA), which represents, 5,000 hospitals, health care 
     systems, networks, and other providers of care, is pleased to 
     support the FamilyCare Act of 2000. The AHA shares your goal 
     of expanding access to health care coverage for the 44 
     million uninsured Americans. We believe the federal budget 
     surplus offers a unique opportunity to fund solutions to the 
     health care problems of the uninsured.
       Recent Medicaid expansions and the creation of the State 
     Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) have greatly 
     improved access to health care coverage for millions of 
     children living in low-income families. But more needs to be 
     done. AHA strongly supports the objective of your legislation 
     that embraces, as one option to address the problems of the 
     uninsured, building on existing public programs to expand 
     coverage to the parents of the children covered by S-CHIP.
       Furthermore, your provisions that include coverage for 
     legal immigrants, improve Medicaid coverage for those 
     transitioning from welfare-to-work, and create state grant 
     programs to encourage market innovation in health care 
     insurance are to be applauded. AHA believes these are good 
     first steps toward lowering the numbers of the uninsured.
       In addition to expanding public programs, AHA supports 
     measures that make health care insurance more affordable for 
     low-income working families. Toward that end, AHA also 
     support H.R. 4113, bipartisan legislation establishing 
     refundable tax credits to assist low-income families in the 
     purchase of health care insurance.
       Our nation's hospitals see every day that the absence of 
     health coverage is a significant barrier to care, reducing 
     the likelihood that people will get appropriate preventive, 
     diagnostic and chronic care. With the uninsured growing in 
     numbers, AHA supports your effort to build on current public 
     programs as an important option to make it possible for more 
     low-income families to get needed health care coverage. We 
     thank you for your leadership and we look forward to working 
     with you on advancing the FamilyCare Act of 2000.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Rick Pollack,
     Executive Vice President.
                                  ____



                                                      Network,

                                        Washington, DC, July 2000.

     From NETWORK--A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby.
     Re: The Family Care Act of 2000.

       Hon. Senator Ted Kennedy: Since 1975, NETWORK: A National 
     Catholic Social Justice Lobby has worked for universal access 
     to affordable, quality health care. NETWORK considers the 
     constant increase in the number of uninsured persons a 
     national disgrace and a serious moral and ethical issue. 
     Sadly, the political will to reform the nation's fragmented 
     non-system of health care is seriously lacking in the current 
     climate of commercialization and profit-making. Therefore, 
     millions of American citizens are denied their human right to 
     medical care.
       Given that as the context, NETWORK supports the efforts of 
     those legislators who recognize that the anticipated federal 
     surplus should be utilized in part to rectify the serious 
     flaws inherent in the present situation. The Family Care Act 
     of 2000 is one of those efforts. NETWORK urges Congress to 
     pass the proposal.
       The goal of the bill is to build on existing legislation in 
     order to enroll more uninsured children and their working 
     parents in Medicaid or CHIP. The bill requires that states 
     first cover children up to 200% of poverty before they enroll 
     parents. This will serve to increase coverage of previously 
     eligible but uninsured children by eliminating the CHIP 
     waiting lists. It is estimated that over 4 million previously 
     uninsured children will be enrolled.
       The proposal targets $50 billion in new money to enable the 
     states to enroll the parents of children already covered by 
     Medicaid and CHIP. This would reduce the number of uninsured 
     parents by an estimated 6.5 million, one out of seven of the 
     nation's uninsured. Most of these uninsured families have at 
     least one member who works.
       In addition, the bill proposes another $100 million per 
     year for five years to encourage the states to develop 
     innovative approaches to expanding coverage, tailoring their 
     solutions to market needs. Much needed is the

[[Page S7663]]

     proposed extension of The Transitional Medicaid Assistance 
     program. Some of the requirements which jeopardize access to 
     health care by persons moving from welfare to low-wage, non-
     benefit jobs will be removed. First time pregnant women will 
     receive prenatal care under the CHIP program and grants will 
     enable states to develop innovative coverage mechanisms.
       All in all, the Family Care Act of 2000 as drafted seeks to 
     rectify to a marked degree the serious problem of lack of 
     health care coverage for the most vulnerable in our society, 
     low-wage working families and their children.
     Kathy Thornton RSM,
       National Coordinator.
     Catherine Pinkerton,
       CSJ Lobbyist.

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, over the last several years health 
care reform has dropped off our national and Congressional agenda. We 
talk about it primarily to posture politically, not because we are 
determined to actually succeed in extending coverage. Too often, the 
goal seems to be to simply create a campaign issue and make voters 
believe we are working to solve the problem, when in reality no 
progress is being made.
  This year, we have seen a lot of talking on health care, but it's 
clear that Congress' priorities lie elsewhere. Just this past week we 
passed a tax break that will affect only 1.7 percent of Americans, yet 
will cost us $50 billion a year when fully phased in. In the meantime, 
40 million people, mostly of modest incomes, continue to live their 
lives with little hope of getting the health coverage they need.
  The question that Congress needs to answer: will we continue to sit 
back and simply watch as the problem of the uninsured grows worse?
  Along with Senator Kennedy, and Congressmen Dingell, Stark and 
Waxman, I obviously have very clear answers to this question. And today 
we are offering a commonsense, bi-partisan step that Congress can take 
this year to improve the plight of working, uninsured families.
  We know that the majority of those without health insurance are 
concentrated in lower-income, working families. The Medicaid and CHIP 
Family Care Improvement Act would target our efforts to these families 
by allowing states to extend Medicaid and CHIP to the parents of 
eligible children. This is a sensible, affordable expansion that will 
make a real and immediate difference for many American families.
  In addition, FamilyCare would provide assistance to increase coverage 
for workers in small businesses by providing grant money for states to 
pursue new and innovative approaches to expand health insurance 
coverage through small business.
  Our plan also gives states a number of new tools to help improve 
outreach and enrollment in Medicaid and the State Children's Health 
Insurance Program.
  FamilyCare would provide health insurance coverage to millions of 
low-income working families for a fraction of the cost of the recently-
passed tax breaks that affect only a small number of people.
  Eight years ago, the fight for universal health care had a surge of 
energy and there was a common purpose among political leaders and the 
American people. Unfortunately, little progress has been made since 
then. While the number of uninsured has grown from 36 million in 1993 
to 44 million in 1999, we have stood by as a nation and simply watched. 
Over the next 3 years, about 30 percent of the population, 81 million 
Americans, can expect a gap in their health insurance coverage lasting 
at least one month. It is practically inconceivable--and morally 
wrong--that we are allowing this to happen in such a strong economy, 
with an extremely competitive labor market.
  It is time to end the failed experiment of trying to let the disease 
cure itself. We need to accomplish the goal of comprehensive reform in 
any way we can--even if it means continuing to work on incremental 
changes, as long as we always keep our target squarely set on universal 
coverage.
  Today, we are giving Congress the opportunity to take a major step 
forward in accomplishing this goal. With FamilyCare, we are simply 
taking a program that is already working to reduce the number of 
uninsured, and expanding it to cover more people who we know need the 
help.
  This approach makes so much sense that even the conservative Health 
Insurance Association of America--the organization that helped to 
defeat universal coverage--has offered its support. In addition, our 
bill has four Republicans as original cosponsors. With this bipartisan 
bill we have a real opportunity to stop talking about expanding health 
coverage, and start acting.
                                 ______