Robert Torricelli: “last month the Senator from Massachusetts, Mr. Kennedy, came to the floor to urge the Republican leadership to allow the…”

“last month the Senator from Massachusetts, Mr. Kennedy, came to the floor to urge the Republican leadership to allow the body to consider reform of managed health care in our country. Today, I also want to join his plea that this institution be allowed to consider the consequences for American families of the managed health care system in our country. The simple truth is health care in America is in a state of crisis-- not a crisis of competence or technology. Most assuredly, it is a crisis of confidence. Confidence in health care in many respects is as important as the quality of the providers or the level of our technology. I have rarely in my life seen an issue where so many Americans are of a similar mind with such a depth of concern regarding the availability and quality of health care under the HMO system. I realized myself the depth of these feelings when, only a few months, ago I joined with my colleague, Congressman Pallone from New Jersey, in a field hearing in our State. During the hearing, families told me about their own experiences in attempting to care for their children, gaining access to the best health care providers, and the enormous frustration and feeling that the costs of operations were being placed before the health of their children.”