[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 19 (Monday, May 15, 2000)]
[Pages 1039-1040]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on House of Representatives Action on Health Care Legislation

May 9, 2000

    I am extremely pleased that today the House passed H.R. 4386, the 
``Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act,'' in an overwhelming 
bipartisan vote. Each year thousands of women who have been diagnosed 
with breast or cervical cancer do not receive the comprehensive coverage 
they need, despite extraordinary efforts by Federal health programs to 
provide that care. This legislation, which I was proud to include in 
this year's budget, will provide States with the option to provide the 
full Medicaid benefit package without delay to uninsured women diagnosed 
with breast or cervical cancer through Federal screening programs.

    I also want to commend the Congress for today's strong bipartisan 
vote in support of the ``Long Term Care Security Act.'' This 
legislation, which I have long advocated, provides authorization for the 
Federal Employee Health Benefit Program to offer long-term care 
insurance to current and retired Federal employees. I hope that the 
legislation serves as a model for all private employers and encourages 
them to provide this type of coverage to their employees. While this is 
an important step, it is only one step. We must also continue to work to 
pass a broad range of long-term care initiatives, including a $3,000 tax 
credit for people with long-term care needs or their caregivers; new 
funding for services which support family caregivers of older persons; 
and efforts to enable States to improve equity in Medicaid eligibility 
for people in home- and community-based settings.

    I am encouraged by the news of Congress acting on these significant 
policy initiatives. We need to build on these achievements and act now 
to pass a range of policies of importance to the American people, 
including the creation of a strong, enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights 
and a new voluntary prescription drug benefit option as we take steps to 
modernize and strengthen the Medicare program. And finally, we must 
redouble our efforts to expand high quality, affordable coverage for all 
Americans. I urge the Congress to work towards passing the 
administration's health coverage proposals that would expand coverage to 
at least 5 million uninsured Americans and provide health services to 
millions more by providing new, affordable health insurance options for 
parents, 19- to 20-year-olds, legal immigrants, workers between jobs, 
and the near elderly.

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