    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [July 26, 2005]
    [Page 1279]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on House of Representatives Passage of Small Business Health
    Insurance Legislation
    July 26, 2005

        I applaud the House of Representatives for passing the ``Small
    Business Health Fairness Act,'' which will increase the availability of
    Association Health Plans. AHPs are a fair, innovative, and commonsense
    approach to make health insurance more affordable and accessible, one of
    my top domestic priorities. By letting small businesses join together to
    buy insurance at the same discounts big companies get, this bill will
    help workers and their families have more health care choices and obtain
    greater savings. This change is overdue, and I urge the Senate to follow
    the House's lead and pass this good legislation this year.

    Note: The statement referred to H.R. 525.