[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 127 (Wednesday, October 2, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H6961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO OFFER RESOLUTION RAISING QUESTION OF 
                        PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE

  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of 
House rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intent to present a question 
of privilege to the House.
  The form of the resolution is as follows:

       A resolution, in accordance with House Rule IX, expressing 
     a sense of the House that its integrity has been impugned and 
     Constitutional duty hampered by the inability of the House to 
     bring to the floor H.R. 854, legislation that would promote 
     the general welfare of the nation by protecting its health 
     care system.
       Whereas President George W. Bush has urged Congress to put 
     Medicare on a ``sustainable financial footing'' in order to 
     assure Americans of affordable and accessible health care.
       Whereas the Administration has failed to take action to 
     protect Medicare and Medicaid programs from severe cuts that 
     threaten basic services to persons in need of health care.
       Whereas the Medicaid program is facing significant cuts 
     through reductions in the disproportionate share hospital 
     program, threatening the very financial viability of the 
     nation's public hospitals.
       Whereas the cuts made in order by the Balanced Budget Act 
     were postponed until 2003 by the Benefits Improvement and 
     Protection Act but without further congressional action cuts 
     will be reimposed and have the potential to seriously cripple 
     safety-net public health services in states across the 
     nation.
       Whereas, in addition to slashing payments to hospitals the 
     Administration has also eliminated the UPL payments for 
     hospitals, further weakening their ability to provide health 
     care to the indigent and uninsured.
       Whereas federal payments to states for this program have 
     been reduced by approximately $700 million in FY 2002 and 
     will be reduced further by about $900 million in FY 2003, 
     thus severely restricting public hospitals' ability to serve 
     persons in need of health care.
       Whereas the number of uninsured persons without access to 
     health care has risen in the last year to 41.2 million.
       Whereas by failing to act Congress imposes on the states 
     and localities an undue burden to carry health care costs as 
     well as abrogates its responsibility to maintain the general 
     welfare of the country, bringing discredit to this Body and 
     threatening the very well-being of the populace.
       Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that it is the sense of the 
     House of Representatives that the Congress should complete 
     action on H.R. 854 or other provider reimbursement 
     legislation before recessing and should insure that Medicare 
     and Medicaid providers have appropriate funds to carry out 
     their health care mandates.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Thornberry). Under rule IX, a resolution 
offered from the floor by a Member other than the majority leader or 
minority leader as a question of the privileges of the House has 
immediate precedence only at a time designated by the Chair within 2 
legislative days after the resolution is appropriately noticed.
  Pending that designation, the form of the resolution noticed by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Farr) will appear in the Record at this 
point.
  The Chair will not at this point determine whether the resolution 
constitutes a question of privilege. That determination will be made at 
a time designated for consideration of the resolution.
  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask to be heard at the 
appropriate time on the question of whether this resolution constitutes 
a question of privilege.

                          ____________________