[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 19, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E883-E884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CLARIFYING MINIMUM ESSENTIAL COVERAGE

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                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 2010

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5014, legislation 
to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Spina Bifida Program 
and the Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Health Care Program 
constitutes minimum essential coverage under the new health care reform 
law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148).
  While the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act explicitly 
states that it covers health

[[Page E884]]

care programs administered by the VA, some have questioned whether the 
VA's Spina Bifida Program, which provides health care to children of 
Vietnam War and certain Korean War veterans for spina bifida-related 
medical conditions, and the Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Health 
Care Program, which provides care for certain birth defects of the 
biological child of a woman veteran who served in Vietnam, meets the 
individual requirement. H.R. 5014 leaves no room for doubt.
  As a veteran of WWII, I understand what our brave American men and 
women give up to serve our country. For the past several years, the 
Democratic Congress has honored them and their dependents with benefits 
worthy of their service. This legislation continues to pay tribute to 
our veterans, providing them the respect they deserve by codifying that 
all VA Health Care programs are covered by the health care reform law. 
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5014.

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