    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [February 20, 2007]
    [Pages 164-165]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting on Health Care
    February 20, 2007

        I just had a very interesting discussion with people who are deeply
    concerned about the status of health care in America today. These men
    and women around the table are charged with designing products for
    businesses, both large and small, and individuals.
        And I discussed my health care plan that would allow--would equalize
    the Tax Code so that the individual would be more likely to be able to
    purchase a plan, because I believe a good health care system is one that
    rewards the consumer, encourages the consumer, and makes sure the
    consumer has got the capacity to make viable choices. And when you have
    consumers in charge of their health care decisions, it is a force that
    is likely to keep the health care costs down.
        And so part of our discussion was, how do we encourage the
    development of an individual market? And I thank you very much for your
    insights and your concerns about the current health--the state of health
    care today in America.
        I have the duty to talk to the American people about what I think
    will be a better alternative than one in which the Federal Government
    makes the health care decisions for the patient and the provider. And I
    laid out such a plan in my State of the Union.
        And now I call upon Members of the Congress to analyze this plan
    very carefully, to recognize the best decisions are made between the
    patients and their providers, and to work with the administration in a
    bipartisan fashion to make sure that health care is accessible and
    affordable for as many Americans as is possible.
        We have a duty here in Washington to take care of the poor, the
    disabled, and the elderly, and we're meeting that duty. And now we have
    a duty to make sure the health care system is responsive to the American
    people, and I look forward to working with Democrats and Republicans to
    do just that.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:53 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of these remarks.

    [[Page 165]]