[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15659]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 19, 2003

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, on July 27th of last year this body made a 
bipartisan commitment to American workers who lose their jobs on 
account of international competition.
  Part of this commitment was that the government would provide for 65 
percent of their healthcare costs.
  Another part of this commitment was that an insurer could not deny 
them coverage on account of their age, pre-existing conditions or any 
other arbitrary reason.
  The bill under consideration today undermines these protections and 
allow insurers to arbitrarily avoid covering them.
  The consumer protections that are law ensure everyone eligible for 
the tax credit can actually claim it, regardless of their age or health 
status.
  Many who will qualify for the TAA benefit are older workers and 
retirees who are more likely to have significant health care needs.
  Today's bill is particularly awful because it strips healthcare 
coverage from those who need it most.
  This is not the time to revisit TAA, when commitments to the current 
program share broad bipartisan support and the current law has yet to 
be fully implemented.
  I urge you to oppose this bill and reaffirm your commitment to the 
American worker.

                          ____________________