[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     COMMIT TO FULLY FUND RESEARCH

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                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 24, 2007

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to clarify a statement from my earlier 
remarks regarding life expectancy in the United States versus other 
nations. Cuba does not rank ahead of the United States in life 
expectancy. A person born in the U.S. can expect to live 78 years and 
those born in Cuba 77.08 years. Cuba's life expectancy rates are 
comparable to rates for the United States despite the fact that their 
spending on healthcare, per capita, is less than $50 and the United 
States' spending per capita is almost $7000.
  We also have a comparable ranking on World Health Organization's list 
for over all health, with the U.S. ranked 37th and Cuba ranked 39th.
  We spend more money on healthcare than any other nation in the world 
and yet the United States ranks 23rd in infant mortality among 
industrialized nations, behind nations like Germany, Canada and Cuba.
  We used to be first in life expectancy in 1945, now, according to the 
Central Intelligence Agencies World Fact Book, we rank 45th. We must 
act to reverse this downward slide in the health of our Nation and the 
most vital step is to revitalize our commitment to universal access to 
healthcare, primary care and a healthcare home for every single person 
in America.

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