[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 6 (Monday, February 14, 2000)]
[Pages 255-256]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Departure for McAllen, Texas, and an Exchange With Reporters

February 9, 2000

Patients' Bill of Rights

    The President. Good morning. Before I leave, I'd like to say just a 
few words about the Patients' Bill of Rights legislation. A House and 
Senate conference will take it up beginning tomorrow. My message is 
simple and straightforward. Congress should seize this moment of 
opportunity to do what is right for the health of the American family, 
to seize this moment to stand with doctors, nurses, and patients, to 
restore trust and accountability in our health care system.
    Last fall the House of Representatives passed by a large margin a 
strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights. The legislation, sponsored 
by Congressmen Norwood and Dingell, says you have a right to the nearest 
emergency room care, the right to see a specialist, the right to know 
you can't be forced to switch doctors in the middle of treatment, the 
right to hold your health care plan accountable if it causes you or a 
loved one great harm, and it covers all Americans in all health plans.
    Now this bill is in the hands of House and Senate conferees. It 
reflects the beliefs and represents the needs of the overwhelming 
majority of the American people without regard to party. It has the 
endorsement of over 300 health care and consumer groups. It has the 
votes of 275 Members of the House of Representatives, including 68 
Republicans. Although I remain concerned that the conferees on the bill 
do not share the majority's view, I believe, nevertheless, they have a 
clear responsibility to ratify these fundamental rights, to put politics 
aside and pass a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights.
    Americans who are battling illnesses shouldn't have to battle 
insurance companies for the coverage they need. Passing a real Patients' 
Bill of Rights for all Americans in all health plans is a crucial step 
toward meeting our goal in the 21st century of assuring quality, 
affordable health care to all our citizens. I ask the House and Senate 
conferees to take the next vital step.
    Thank you.

Middle East Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, what are you doing about the daily bombing of 
Lebanon?
    The President. Well, let me say, we are doing our best to get the 
peace process back on track. I think it is clear that the bombing is a 
reaction to the deaths, in two separate instances, of Israeli soldiers. 
What we need to do is to stop the violence and start the peace process 
again. We're doing our best

[[Page 256]]

to get it started. And we're working very, very hard on it.

Disruption on the Internet

    Q. Mr. President, are you monitoring the situation with the hackers 
who have been disrupting some of the main websites around the country 
the past few days? Are you monitoring that situation? Is there anything 
that Washington could possibly do about this?
    The President. I don't know the answer to that. But I have asked 
people who know more about it than I do whether there is anything we can 
do about it.

Patients' Bill of Rights

    Q. Mr. President, on the Patients' Bill of Rights, Republicans are 
considering adding the right to sue in Federal court, just not district 
court, would that be sufficient, sir, in your opinion?
    Q. I couldn't hear that question.
    The President. I honestly don't know the answer to that because I 
haven't ever considered it, and I haven't discussed it. I'd like to have 
a chance to discuss it. I think any indication that there is movement 
and that they're trying to get together is hopeful. But I don't want to 
commit to something I'm not sure I understand the full implications of 
yet.

Possible Visit to Pakistan

    Q. Have you decided whether to go to Pakistan yet?
    The President. We haven't made a decision on the final itinerary 
yet. I want to make a trip which maximizes the possibilities, not only 
for constructive partnerships for the United States in the years ahead 
but, even more urgently, for peace in that troubled part of the world. 
It has enormous implications for people in the United States and 
throughout the world, more I suspect, than most people know. I hope in 
the time that I have here that we can make some progress because it is 
something that I remain profoundly concerned about for years and years 
into the future.

Northern Ireland Peace Process

    Q. Any telephone calls from Northern Ireland--[inaudible]--can you 
give us an update, sir?
    The President. Well, it's correct that we're working very hard on 
it. I have some hope that we may find a way through this which would 
enable every aspect of the Good Friday accord to be realized. That's 
after all, what the people of Northern Ireland voted for overwhelmingly 
and that could achieve that objective without interrupting the progress 
so far.
    But I have nothing else to report to you except to say that I'm 
working very hard; the British and Irish Governments are; and I think 
that the leaders of all the political factions are. I think everyone 
understands that we're at a very important moment, and we're trying to 
keep it going. And we have a chance. And I just hope everyone will--
everyone--will belly up to the bar and do their part so that we don't 
have any kind of backsliding or reversal here. We've come too far.
    I was quite encouraged that there was universal condemnation of the 
explosion in Northern Ireland last week. That's a good first step. We 
just need to keep at it.
    Thank you.

Patients' Bill of Rights

    Q. Is the law suit provision still the major stumbling block, at 
least with the Senate negotiators there in terms of the Patients' Bill 
of Rights? You may have asked that, but I couldn't hear.
    The President. He did in a different way. I think so. You're 
following it so you know there are a few other differences of opinion, 
but we want universal--first we want to cover all Americans, that's a 
very important thing. And there has to be some way of enforcing a right, 
or it's not a right. Otherwise it's just a suggestion.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 8:46 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House.