[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 50 (Tuesday, May 2, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 STATEMENT ON COVER THE UNINSURED WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 2, 2006

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of ``Cover the 
Uninsured Week,'' which runs from May 1-7, 2006. This annual nationwide 
campaign asks Americans from all walks of life to demand that health 
coverage for Americans be a top priority. I look forward to the day 
when we will no longer need such a week because all Americans would 
have the coverage they need.
  Mr. Speaker, as it stands, nearly 46 million Americans--8 million of 
whom are children--have no health care coverage. The health insurance 
and health care crisis in this country is worsening each year. As 
health care costs continue to rise, every family's health care coverage 
is at risk. Job-based health insurance continues to decline, and for 
millions of low-income workers, health care coverage is not even an 
option.
  I am particularly dismayed about the high rates of uninsurance for 
certain populations. Californians have among the highest rates of 
uninsurance in the Nation. More than one in five Californians--nearly 
6.6 million children and adults under age 65--were uninsured for all or 
part of the year. Racial and ethnic minorities also have high rates of 
uninsurance. Racial and ethnic minorities comprise about one-third of 
the U.S. population but disproportionately comprise 52 percent of the 
uninsured. One in five African Americans are uninsured, one in three 
Latino Americans is uninsured, and nearly one in three Native Americans 
and Alaska Natives are uninsured.
  As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), 
I want to highlight the fact that one out of every five Asian Pacific 
Islander Americans does not have health insurance. Overall, Asian 
Pacific Islander Americans are far more likely to be uninsured than 
non-Latino Whites (21 percent vs. 14 percent). Uninsurance rates vary 
significantly by subgroup. For example, 34 percent of Korean Americans, 
27 percent of Southeast Asian Americans, and about 20 percent of 
Chinese Americans, Filipino Americans, and South Asian Americans do not 
have health insurance.
  The health of our Nation is dependent upon the health of our 
citizens. We need a healthy society if we are to remain globally 
competitive in education, technology, business, and other areas. Our 
top priority in Congress should be to find solutions to transform our 
healthcare system into one that is comprehensive, universal, and 
sustainable.
  Our Federal investment must reflect this priority to provide coverage 
for the 46 million Americans across the country who deserve a 
guaranteed health insurance system. We must expand our Federal safety 
net, stop slashing Medicare and Medicaid, and work to eliminate racial 
and ethnic health disparities. We owe it to our parents, children, and 
future generations to solve this problem.

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