[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book I)]
[June 30, 1994]
[Page 1171]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Congressional Action on Health Care Reform
June 30, 1994

    Chairman Gibbons and the Ways and Means Committee stepped up to 
their responsibility today and took a giant stride forward on the road 
to comprehensive health care for all Americans. I want to commend 
Chairman Gibbons for his leadership and longstanding dedication to 
quality health care for every American.
    The Ways and Means Committee understands what the American people 
want. They want universal coverage. They want shared employer-employee 
responsibility. And they want costs controlled. Others pretend that 
piecemeal tinkering with the health care system will satisfy the 
American people. But the 78 percent of the public that supports 
universal coverage knows they are wrong.
    The Ways and Means Committee joins two other committees which have 
approved bills that build on the current system of workplace-based 
insurance, providing quality and affordable care for working Americans. 
The real progress that is being achieved in these committees is proving 
the naysayers wrong.
    In a mere few weeks' time, Congress and the Nation have made 
extraordinary progress in the fight for real health care reform. While 
the special interests will continue to try and stand in the way of 
history, they will not succeed. The voices of doctors, nurses, 
hospitals, hundreds of thousands of large and small businesses, and 
American families must and will be heard. The Ways and Means Committee 
answered their call today. We must all answer the call this year. There 
is no turning back.