[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 102 (Friday, July 20, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H4368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  VOTE FOR EXPANSION OF MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS TO HELP THE WORKING 
                               UNINSURED

  (Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, with all this talk about a 
patients' bill of rights, the most important thing we should talk 
about, I think, is the working uninsured, those who have gone without, 
because none of these rights mean a thing if one does not have health 
insurance.
  I want to help the 43 million uninsured Americans, primarily small-
business owners, their families, their employees, their loved ones, 
help them join the ranks of the insured. The goal of a patients' bill 
of rights should be to help these people. These are the people who need 
access to affordable health care.
  One good way to do that is to expand the Medical Savings Accounts, or 
MSAs. Medical Savings Accounts help people get the care they need from 
the doctor they choose.
  The GOP House bill, the Fletcher bill, is the only bill that totally 
opens up Medical Savings Accounts. Vote to increase the number of 
insured. Vote for our bill. It is the right thing to do.

                          ____________________