[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 44 (Monday, November 8, 1999)]
[Pages 2262-2263]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to the Speaker on the Selection Procedure for Participants in the 
Joint House-Senate Conference on the ``Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care 
Improvement Act of 1999''

November 4, 1999

Dear Mr. Speaker:

    I am writing to underscore my deep disappointment with the unusual 
procedure employed in naming participants to the joint House-Senate 
conference on H.R. 2723, the Bipartisan Consensus Managed Care 
Improvement Act of 1999. The decision to appoint members that fail to 
reflect the overwhelming vote of 275 to 151 on the

[[Page 2263]]

Norwood-Dingell bill sends the wrong message to the American people, and 
the wrong messengers to the conference committee.
    The Norwood-Dingell Patients' Bill of Rights legislation is the only 
patient protections bill in this Congress that has received strong 
bipartisan support. Yet, out of the 13 Republican members appointed as 
conferees, only one voted for this legislation, and only one voted in 
favor of yesterday's successful motion in the House that instructed 
conferees to insist on including the provisions of the Norwood-Dingell 
bill.
    It is clear that the public longs for us to reach across party lines 
to address issues of national concern. There are few matters that are 
more important than enacting a strong Patients Bill of Rights. In this 
regard, I am asking you to use your authority under the House rules to 
expand the conference committee to include members who accurately 
reflect the will of the House.
    We need to make certain that the results of this conference will be 
in the public interest; as currently constituted, this committee is 
weighted heavily in favor of the special interests that oppose this 
bill. Over the years, we have worked together on drafting and passing 
bipartisan health care legislation, including the Health Insurance 
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. I hope we can build on that 
record so that this Congress can respond to the public's need for 
patients' protections as our nation's health care delivery system 
undergoes change.
    Sincerely,
                                            William J. Clinton

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this letter.