[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 23807]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              CONGRESS MUST PASS PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, just recently we read a report 
that tells us that 43 million Americans are uninsured and without 
health insurance. Shame on America and shame on this Congress. That is 
why among many things that we have to do to include those who are 
uninsured, we must pass the Patients' Bill of Rights.
  Tragically in my own State of Texas under Republican leadership, 
Texas is number one with uninsured persons with no coverage to protect 
them and provide for health insurance. Shame on Texas and shame on the 
Republican leadership in the State of Texas.
  But the Patients' Bill of Rights will give minimal relief to those 
who are covered. It provides access to any emergency room. It will stop 
the closed-door policy of an emergency room because of nonapproval, 
allow women to have OB/GYNs as their primary caregiver, and will give 
relief to sue HMOs, not frivolously but if they decide to determine a 
patient's medical destiny and they are hurt.
  Mr. Speaker, does it mean patients will sue their employer? Of course 
not. Does it mean this will work? Yes, because it worked in the State 
of Texas.
  We must pass the Patients' Bill of Rights, otherwise more shame on 
America.

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