[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 22996]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 WHISTLE-BLOWER PROTECTIONS FOR NURSES

  (Mrs. CAPPS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, the House will soon act on managed-care 
reform. In this debate we must protect the whistle-blowing rights for 
nurses and health professionals.
  Patients depend on nurses to ensure they receive proper care. Nurses 
who see the health of their patients endangered should feel 100 percent 
confident that they can voice their concerns without retaliation from 
their employers.
  I have been a registered nurse for over 30 years. I understand 
firsthand how difficult it is to come forward and report abuses, 
situations which compromise the quality of care. No one should feel 
that their job is in jeopardy because they speak on behalf of the 
safety of their patients.
  Let us show our support for nurses and healthcare professionals. 
Support the whistle-blower language in the bipartisan Norwood-Dingell 
managed-care bill.

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