[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH FAIRNESS ACT OF 2004

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 2004

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4281, 
the Small Business Health Fairness Act, which will allow small business 
to join together to better provide their hardworking employees with 
health care coverage. This important legislation will solve the serious 
problem with the growing number of uninsured American workers.
  It is reported that as many as 60 percent of America's 43.6 million 
uninsured are employed in small businesses throughout the country. Over 
the last few years, small business employers have become unable to 
provide their workers with affordable health care as a result of the 
rapid and unjust rise in the cost of health insurance.
  As a former small business owner, I understand the plight felt by 
employers, who want nothing more than to provide employees and their 
families with quality health care.
  The Small Business Health Fairness Act will afford these smaller 
businesses the same rights that large corporations and unions have and 
enable their representative associations to form Association Health 
Plans (AHPs), which will offer health care nationwide to member 
businesses. AHPs will be crucial in closing the gap the small business 
community is facing with the increase of uninsured American workers.
  It is imperative that we act now by passing this legislation so that 
our nation's small business employees can immediately begin receiving 
health care for their families.
  Last year, the House passed a virtually identical bill with strong 
bipartisan support, but it unfortunately never saw the light of day in 
the Senate. I am hopeful that this body will pass this measure today, 
and quickly send it to the Senate for consideration. We can no longer 
allow these dedicated employees to live and work without health 
insurance.
  I thank the Chairman for giving me time to talk about my strong 
support of H.R. 4281.

                          ____________________