James A. Leach: “I agree with, in fact, the first two provisions of the motion to instruct and will reluctantly accede to the third, but…”

“I agree with, in fact, the first two provisions of the motion to instruct and will reluctantly accede to the third, but I am compelled to note that the controversy over the medical privacy provisions that this motion to instruct seeks to strike from the bill presents one of the most ironic circumstances that I have dealt with as a committee chairman. The same Members who have quite properly insisted on placing privacy protections for consumers of financial services in the bill are now strenuously insisting on deleting from it a provision that would offer consumers powerful new protections in an area where there is perhaps the greatest sensitivity to privacy, that relating to personal health and medical records. I continue to believe that the medical privacy provision championed by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Ganske) and others has been widely misunderstood both by Members of this body and outside groups that have expressed certain skepticism.”