[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Pages 26026-26027]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            HEALTH INSURANCE

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am here today to talk about health 
insurance. Congress is well aware of the ever increasing number of the 
uninsured. Not to mention the fact that health costs continue to rise 
at an alarming rate. Make no mistake, the numbers are sobering.
  But I am not here to dwell on the past and present. I stand here 
today to talk about the future. I stand here to discuss ways to expand 
access to health insurance and to change the inequities in the tax 
treatment of health insurance.
  During the debate on SCHIP, I engaged in a colloquy with Senators 
Burr, Coburn, Martinez, Corker, and Bennett. During that exchange, I 
explained that, currently, a taxpayer who receives health insurance 
through his or her employer is not taxed on the cost of the health 
coverage. I also explained that individuals who do not receive health 
coverage through their employer generally do not receive a tax benefit. 
Similarly, a tax benefit is not afforded to people who are not employed 
and purchase health insurance on the individual market.
  I noted that Republicans and Democrats alike agree that Congress 
should ``level the playing field'' and expand access to health 
insurance. The question is how. Senators Burr, Coburn, Martinez, 
Corker, and Dole have introduced a proposal that would eliminate the 
exclusion for employer-provided health coverage. It would provide a 
flat tax credit to all Americans who purchase ``qualifying health 
insurance.'' I commend the Senators for their leadership, and I intend 
to work

[[Page 26027]]

with them on ways to expand access to health insurance.
  Senators Wyden and Bennett have also introduced a proposal that would 
expand access to health insurance. Senators Gregg, Bill Nelson, and 
Alexander have cosponsored the proposal. Most recently, Senators 
Stabenow, Landrieu, and Coleman cosponsored the legislation. This 
bipartisan legislation is a ``patient-driven'' approach to reforming 
our health care system. I want to stress, a ``patient-driven'' approach 
to reforming health care.
  A ``patient-driven'' approach means the patient can shop for their 
own health care in a competitive marketplace, which will allow them to 
choose the type of health insurance that meets their needs. Many in the 
Democratic Party, including several of the Democratic Presidential 
candidates, want a government-run single-payer health care system that 
is not ``patient-centered.'' This is a nonstarter and is bad policy. 
Recent polling shows that the American public thinks so. That is, the 
majority of Americans do not want a government-run system.
  I want to reform the health care system through the Tax Code. I want 
to cap or eliminate the exclusion for employer-provided health coverage 
and offer Americans a choice between a tax credit and a deduction for 
health insurance. I want to condition these tax subsidies on States 
undertaking certain insurance reforms. I want to give the States the 
flexibility to decide what types of reforms are best for their 
constituencies.
  This ``patient-driven'' approach--with insurance reforms and changes 
in the tax treatment of health insurance--should make health insurance 
more affordable. And it should significantly reduce the number of the 
uninsured.
  During my tenure in the Senate, I have sought to build bridges 
between Republicans and Democrats. I believe that there are times where 
Republicans and Democrats need to come together to produce results.
  An example of my efforts to work in a bipartisan manner is the 
bipartisan SCHIP legislation that was overwhelmingly passed by this 
body. In the spirit of bipartisanship, I join Senator Wyden in 
cosponsoring the Healthy Americans Act. The Healthy Americans Act is a 
``patient-driven'' approach to reforming our health care system.
  While I support this ``patient-driven'' approach, I have serious 
concerns about a number of the provisions of the Healthy Americans Act. 
For example, like many of the Democratic Presidential candidates, the 
act would require all individuals to buy health insurance. I support 
accessibility to private insurance and differ with my colleagues on 
this point. Also, Senator Wyden's approach is more regulatory than I 
would prefer.
  In addition, I am not endorsing the repeal of the noninterference 
clause in Medicare Part D. That is not going to be on the table. So my 
cosponsorship is not an endorsement of these elements. Instead, I am 
cosponsoring the Healthy Americans Act to add my voice to the call for 
significant changes in our health care system.
  What we have here is Republicans and Democrats coming together to 
solve a problem. This is what bipartisanship is all about. We are all 
on the same page when it comes to the big picture; that is, reforming 
our health care system and expanding access to health insurance.
  We have serious problems, and we need serious people to solve them. 
So let's put politics aside, roll up our sleeves and work in a 
bipartisan way to reform our health care system.
  Make no mistake, my cosponsorship of the Healthy Americans Act is 
only one step in the process. I intend to work with Senators Burr, 
Coburn, Martinez, Corker, and Dole on their health care reform 
proposal. I intend to work with Chairman Baucus and members of the 
Senate Finance Committee on small business health reforms, along with 
more comprehensive health care reform proposals like the Healthy 
Americans Act. Let's get serious.

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