[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 58 (Thursday, May 5, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E907]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E907]]
                        HEALTH INSURANCE CRISIS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 2005

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Cover the 
Uninsured Week, May 1-8, 2005.
  As we come together for this year's Cover the Uninsured Week, we will 
continue to let the leaders of this country know it is time that we 
make health coverage for all Americans our top priority. Today, 45 
million Americans have no health insurance, including more than 8 
million children. Eight out of 10 uninsured Americans either work or 
are in working families.
  Being uninsured means going without needed care. It means minor 
illnesses become major ones because care is delayed. Tragically, it 
also means that one significant medical expense can wipe out a family's 
life savings. There are millions of working, uninsured Americans who go 
to bed every night worrying what will happen to them and their families 
if a major illness or injury strikes.
  In my home state of Ohio there are currently 1,362,000 uninsured, an 
increase of 18,000 people since 2003. We have also seen the strain on 
many of the local hospitals in my district when people are forced to 
use emergency rooms as their source of primary care.
  The problem is getting worse. As the price of health care continues 
to rise, fewer individuals and families can afford to pay for coverage. 
Fewer small businesses are able to provide coverage for their 
employees, and those that do are struggling to hold on to the coverage 
they offer. It is a problem that affects all of us and we cannot sit 
idly by while the people of this country continue to go without health 
insurance.
  We must begin to move forward in a bipartisan manner to expand access 
to affordable, quality and reliable health coverage for America's 
families.

                          ____________________