[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6235]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL HEALTH CARE DECISIONS DAY

  (Mr. GINGREY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise on National Health Care Decisions 
Day in support of health organizations all over the country who are 
educating the public about what it means to have an advance directive, 
or a living will.
  Mr. Speaker, advance directives allow individuals to maintain control 
of their health care decisions even at the end of their lives, 
regardless of the circumstances that they may face at that time. It is 
crucial for individuals to understand the options that presently exist 
so that they may convey their end-of-life medical wishes accurately and 
effectively. Accordingly, I have introduced a resolution, H. Con. Res 
323, supporting the goals of the National Health Care Decisions Day, 
which has garnered broad bipartisan support in both the House and the 
Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill does not express what those end-of-life 
medical decisions should be, rather, it simply encourages Americans to 
educate themselves about these very difficult issues and to talk about 
them with their loved ones.
  I want to thank the more than 100 Members of Congress who have 
already joined me in cosponsoring this resolution. And of course I look 
forward to it being considered on the floor very soon. And I encourage 
all Americans to set aside time to have what may very well be one of 
the most important conversations a family can have.

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