[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 24, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H1376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MEDICARE REFORM

  (Mr. PORTMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, following on the comments of my colleague 
from Florida, I will say that this Medicare bill that the House passed 
last year, which adds a prescription drug benefit, is good medicine. It 
comes after years and years of this Congress talking about adding a 
prescription drug benefit for our seniors. Lots of rhetoric, no action. 
Finally, late last year, this House got together on a bipartisan basis 
and passed a benefit that truly helps seniors.
  It is a good bill because it adds prescription drugs, but it is even 
better than that because it adds another great, exciting new tool for 
our seniors, but also for all Americans, to be able to save tax free 
for their health care: health savings accounts. You make a contribution 
tax free, it builds up tax free, and when you pay for your health care 
needs, it is tax free.
  This will help in a few different ways. One, it will encourage 
preventive health care, people taking care of themselves, reducing 
costs in Medicare as a result. Second, it will add more competition to 
the health care system. It is your own dollar now that you are 
spending. That also will reduce costs in Medicare. Finally, it will 
help with the uninsured.
  Many small businesses who do not now provide coverage for the 
uninsured will now be able to provide that coverage and individuals 
will be able to make contributions to an account like this to be able 
to cover their own health care needs.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a good part of a good bill.

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