Political Quotes

“I appreciate my colleagues who have joined me this evening to share their concerns about this issue and offer practical solutions to the problem. Before I close, I would like to discuss a couple of measures that are or have the capacity to reignite the debate on the uninsured and health care for all. One was just referenced by the gentlewoman from Indiana, and that is House Concurrent Resolution 99. It is a resolution that was crafted by the Universal Health Care Task Force, of which I am a member. This resolution directs Congress to enact legislation by October of 2004 that provides access to comprehensive health care for all Americans. The resolution designates 14 separate principles that would guide us in that process. They include issues such as affordability and removal of financial barriers to access to care, cost efficiency, comprehensive care, including making mental health parity a priority, and promotion of prevention and early intervention. Our health care system should eliminate disparities in access to quality health care. One of the other guiding principles is that it should address the needs of people with special health care needs and underserved populations in rural and urban areas. These are basic guiding values that we should look to as we reform our health care system.”