[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5256]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

  (Mr. CHOCOLA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CHOCOLA. Mr. Speaker, one of the most important issues that we 
face as a Nation today domestically is the rising cost of health care. 
The most effective way to address that issue is to return more 
ownership and control of health care coverage. That is exactly what the 
health savings accounts created under the bipartisan Medicare bill do. 
HSAs are portable accounts that allow individuals to save and withdraw 
tax-free dollars for their health care needs and medical expenses not 
covered by their insurance. Individuals own the accounts and the 
savings can be carried over year after year and from job to job, and 
people can build wealth into their retirement.
  By offering individuals ownership and control of their health care 
coverage, we return control to the patients; and that is exactly where 
it should be. Mr. Speaker, I applaud my colleagues who have voted to 
support the bipartisan Medicare bill which will help reduce medical 
expenses and improve the health care system in America.

                          ____________________