[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 12, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H2818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PROVIDING THE SECURITY OF AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE

  (Mr. KNOLLENBERG asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, in response to the gentlewoman that 
just spoke, there is another alternative that we can talk about as 
well, because throughout the country, small business owners face a 
problem, because they cannot afford to offer their employees health 
insurance.
  The Small Business Health Fairness Act, H.R. 4281, which we are going 
to debate this week, helps to resolve health care benefit concerns for 
small businesses and their employees. Through Association Health Plans, 
small businesses will have the ability to secure affordable health care 
contracts. Uninsured employees will receive the security of affordable 
health insurance.
  Here is something that I think is significant: Out of the 44 million 
uninsured Americans, so called, about 25 million of them are people in 
small businesses, either the dependents or the employees themselves.
  The price of health care benefits has risen by 12 percent this year 
alone. Escalating health care premiums makes it nearly impossible for 
small business owners to afford to offer health care benefits to their 
employees.
  H.R. 4281 will make health insurance a reality for small businesses. 
I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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