Frank Pallone: “I have spoken over the last couple of weeks during our special orders in the evening a number of times on various health…”

“I have spoken over the last couple of weeks during our special orders in the evening a number of times on various health care issues because I do believe that this new session of Congress that began a few weeks ago must focus attention and try to pass legislation that would address three major health care concerns. First and in many ways most important because it has moved the furthest and has the best chance I think of getting passed before the Congress adjourns this coming fall is HMO reform, the need to pass the Patients' Bill of Rights which is the House version of HMO reform that passed this fall that is now in conference with the Senate. The conferees have been appointed, and we understand that the conference is scheduled to meet at some time towards the end of this month, but I cannot stress enough how important it is to move quickly on the Patients' Bill of Rights.”