[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 23 (Thursday, February 5, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S1676]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HEALTHY AMERICANS ACT

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I cosponsored Senator Wyden and Senator 
Bennett Healthy Americans Act last year to support a legitimate 
bipartisan effort that combines ``private markets'' and ``universal 
access.'' I am willing to do so again this year, because health care 
reform is too big of an issue for one party to tackle on its own. Our 
only chance of achieving true, meaningful reform is if both parties 
work together.
  However, I do have reservations about this legislation--I see it as a 
work in progress and would not vote for it in its current form. For 
example, the current budget figures are unrealistic. In order to 
maintain budget neutrality, as drafted, the bill would shift a new 
burden on middle-income Americans. We have not yet discovered a way to 
solve this problem without increasing the cost of the bill.
  Another problem I have with the bill is that the mandated level of 
standard benefits is too high. As drafted, typically young, healthy 
Americans would be forced to pay for a richer level of coverage than 
they might now choose or possibly be able to afford.
  I commend the efforts of Senators Wyden and Bennett to reach across 
party lines on this important issue, and look forward to working with 
both of them to further improve this proposal.

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