[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 20892-20893]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         AMERICA'S HEALTH CARE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
address the issue of America's health care. Are we better off than we 
were 4 years ago? A quick look at the facts tells us that we are far 
from it.
  Just this summer, the Census Bureau announced that the number of 
people without health insurance nationwide went up by 1.4 million--the 
third annual increase in a row. Forty-five million people are 
uninsured, many because they have lost their jobs. Over 5 million 
people have lost their health insurance since the beginning of the Bush 
administration.
  The Current Population Survey (CPS) is the primary source for data on 
Texas' uninsured population. It paints a picture for the state of 
health care in Texas. My homes State currently has the second highest 
rate of uninsured in the United States behind New Mexico. CPS data 
shows that there were 4.5 million people without health insurance in 
Texas, which is about 21.4 percent of the total population.
  The President said we're turning the corner, but we have to look at 
the facts. Efforts to improve our economy are not reaching people of 
color.
  African Americans are losing their jobs at nearly twice the national 
average. Latino unemployment hovers near a 5-year high. These numbers 
are an outrage and are unacceptable.
  The higher unemployment rate for people of color is a major 
contributing factor to the health disparity affecting a large 
percentage of uninsured minorities. Blacks and Latinos are far more 
likely to be uninsured when compared to their Anglo counterparts.
  Nationally, 11.6 percent of the Anglo population, 20.1 percent of the 
African-American population and 34.8 percent of the Hispanic population 
are without health insurance. In my home State of Texas, while 12 
percent of whites are uninsured, 21.2 percent of African Americans and 
36.7 percent of Hispanics do not have medical coverage.
  Unfortunately, the rates for children without health coverage are 
also reaching alarming numbers.
  In the United States today, one in five children is without health 
insurance. In fact, in my home State of Texas 1.6 million children 
depend solely on health insurance provided by Medicaid. Limited access 
to health care contributes to growing rates of disease among children.

[[Page 20893]]

  Studies have shown that good health is a prerequisite for optimal 
learning and schools can help studies achieve academic success by 
participating in efforts that promote good health, including access to 
regular medical and mental health care.
  Protecinting the health care of children should be the number one 
priority of any great nation. An investment in the health care of our 
youth is one of the wisest investments we can make for the future of 
this country.
  No, Mr. Speaker, when it comes to health care, we are not better off 
than we were 4 years ago, and we can and should do better.
  Now is the time for all Americans to have access to quality health 
care and meaningful patient protection. Our citizens deserve and expect 
nothing less.

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