[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.