[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 31 (Monday, August 8, 1994)]
[Page 1611]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Senate Action on Health Care Reform Legislation

August 2, 1994

    The bill unveiled by Senator Mitchell achieves what the American 
people want, health coverage that can never be taken away. The bill 
provides health security for hard-working middle class Americans who 
deserve nothing less. And it places a high priority on covering the 
Nation's precious resource, our children. I applaud the majority leader 
and the Members of the Senate who have been working diligently to bring 
a bill to the floor that works for ordinary Americans.
    The Senate bill provides for universal coverage, enables Americans 
to keep their current insurance and their doctor, maintains quality 
health care, and provides greater opportunity to keep health coverage 
affordable. It builds on the current system of shared responsibility 
which we already know works.
    We have made tremendous progress. The Senate and House are poised to 
vote for legislation that covers every American for the first time in 
our Nation's history. We have come this far, and we must not turn back 
now. If Congress fails to achieve universal coverage, if hard-working 
middle class Americans are left out in the cold, and if costs are not 
controlled, that's simply unacceptable.
    The House and Senate will soon begin this debate, a debate that will 
engage every American family concerned about their health security. 
While differences in the House and Senate bills will be worked out as 
the legislative process moves forward, achieving universal coverage 
remains the critical goal. During the course of this historic floor 
debate, there will be those who say that reaching universal coverage is 
not necessary. To those people I say: Let the debate begin. Those of us 
who are fighting for universal coverage are fighting for middle class 
Americans. This is a debate that we must win and that we will win.