    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [November 3, 1999]
    [Page 1963]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1963]]

    Statement on Proposed Patients' Bill of Rights Legislation
    November 3, 1999

        Today's overwhelming vote in the House is an encouraging step toward
    passage of a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights.
    Unfortunately, the House Republican leadership is seeking to defeat the
    will of the House--now expressed clearly for a second time--by refusing
    to appoint conferees who support this legislation. Despite the
    leadership's action, the message of the House vote to the conference
    could not be more clear: Reject the false promise of the Senate-passed
    bill and send me the bipartisan measure that delivers the real
    protections that patients deserve.