[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 58 (Thursday, May 5, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H2982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PROVIDING UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE FOR ALL AMERICANS

  (Ms. LEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, today there are more than 45 million Americans 
living without health insurance. In my home State of California, there 
are almost 6.5 million people without health insurance, and that is 
300,000 more than when President Bush took office. This is a tragedy 
and a disgrace. It is time for us to act.
  The Family Care Act, the Medicare Access Act, and the Small Business 
Health Insurance Promotion Act will help cover more than half of the 
uninsured, but that is not enough. All Americans should have access to 
quality health care, and that is why I will be reintroducing H.R. 3000, 
the United States Universal Health Service Act.
  In the wealthiest country in the world, no one should be without 
affordable and accessible health care. Today this House votes on $82 
billion more to continue to wage war and occupy Iraq, a total now of 
over $300 billion; and we cannot even provide health care for all 
Americans. It is a shame and disgrace that our priorities are so 
misplaced.

                          ____________________