[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 694-695]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          MEDICARE FOR ALL ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 1, 2006

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, the story of our Nation's healthcare system 
is one of great success but also one of great failure and missed 
opportunity. We have some of the finest medical institutions in the 
world: the best trained medical professionals, cutting-edge technology, 
and state-of-the-art facilities.
  We also have, however, major gaps in our healthcare system. At last 
count nearly 46 million Americans were uninsured. Close to six million 
Americans lost their insurance between 2000 and 2004. More than 18,000 
Americans die prematurely each year because they lack health insurance 
coverage. Despite the outstanding job by hospitals, community health 
centers, and others, our safety net is becoming threadbare. Federal 
spending on the healthcare safety net declined 8.9 percent between 2001 
and 2004, while the need continues to grow even larger.

[[Page 695]]

  The time is ripe for action. Today several of my Democratic 
colleagues and I are introducing a bill to bring the tried, true, and 
trusted Medicare program to all. This bill will for the first time make 
Medicare available to those under age 65. Americans will also have the 
option of selecting any of the plans offered to members of Congress, 
the President, and Federal employees.
  According to the Institute of Medicine, covering all Americans will 
actually save the country $380 billion a year. That is partly because 
we are already paying for the health care of the uninsured through 
emergency room services. By providing people the ability to obtain 
comprehensive healthcare coverage, they will be able to receive better 
prevention services and earlier treatments, lowering the cost of their 
care. All Americans will reap the economic benefits of a healthier 
Nation.
  And this plan will save not only lives, but also American industries 
and jobs. We currently have an unlevel economic playing field. American 
companies are competing in the international marketplace against 
companies that do not directly bear the costs of providing their 
employees and retirees health care. American companies are doing the 
right thing, but being penalized for it.
  I am pleased to introduce this ``Medicare for All'' bill today as a 
companion bill to the legislation Senator Kennedy introduced yesterday. 
I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I urge the Republican 
leadership to let us address the healthcare crisis faced by millions of 
Americans.

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