[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 136 (Tuesday, September 30, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H8961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   LACK OF A GOOD HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

  (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as a nurse by 
professional training, I have spent much of my public career working to 
ensure that the Nation's health care system is affordable and provides 
the best possible services for all Americans. While Americans still 
have a world class health care system, there are those whose lives have 
been threatened by a focus on profits over healing.
  Mr. Speaker, nearly a quarter of the residents in Texas, my home 
State, lack health coverage. That is a larger percentage than any other 
State. The situation has been getting worse, according to a U.S. Census 
Bureau report to be released today. The survey shows 24.7 percent of 
the State's residents had no insurance during the 2-year period ending 
last December. Texas also had the Nation's highest proportion of 
uninsured in 2000 and 2001.
  I support a plan that would expand Medicare coverage for prescription 
medications. However, there must be some cost containment agreement 
with manufacturers and a streamlining of the Federal administrative 
structure to reduce costs to beneficiaries. Mr. Speaker, now is the 
time for all Americans to have access to quality health care and 
meaningful patient protection. Our citizens deserve and expect nothing 
less.

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