[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1665]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH FAIRNESS ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. JIM RYUN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 26, 2005

  Mr. RYUN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 525, 
which would authorize small businesses around the country to establish 
Association Health Plans. An estimated 45 million people are uninsured 
in the United States, and the number has grown since 1989. Eighty-five 
percent of these people are in working families where the price of 
premiums have increased so much that they cannot afford the coverage 
that will give them peace of mind.
  The majority of Americans receive health insurance coverage through 
their employers, but with rising health care costs, many small 
businesses can no longer afford to provide coverage for their 
employees. H.R. 525 would remedy this by allowing small businesses to 
band together to garner greater buying power when bargaining with 
health care providers. Let's give Americans access to more affordable 
health care and support Association Health Plans.

                          ____________________