C. W. Bill Young: “I rise in support of children and older Americans this afternoon because I have supported and initiated many legislative…”

“I rise in support of children and older Americans this afternoon because I have supported and initiated many legislative efforts in this House to provide health care benefits to both groups. Yet I must oppose this legislation today because the process under which we are considering it is a disservice to young and old alike. We have before us a major expansion of a Federal entitlement program, a $54 billion tax increase, and the largest cut in the history of the Medicare program under a procedure that allows no member--Republican or Democrat--to offer an amendment to improve this bill. This is the people's House, and yet only a handful of our 435 members have had a chance to write this legislation. Two major committees--Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce--had primary jurisdiction over this matter, but the Energy and Commerce Committee did not even hold public hearings on this important issue. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was established with my support in 1997 through a bipartisan effort of this Congress. It has been an unqualified success in providing life-saving medical care to children throughout our Nation.”