Thomas Daschle: “every Member of Congress and every permanent Federal worker has access to comprehensive health insurance. This is true…”

“every Member of Congress and every permanent Federal worker has access to comprehensive health insurance. This is true from the Senate cleaning crew, to the staff director of a committee, to Members of Congress and their families. We get insurance the way most working Americans do--through our employer, with a shared contribution between employer and employee. Our coverage is secure, comprehensive, and affordable. This is not true, however, for employees of firms contracting with Congress. Many of these individuals, who work side by side with Federal workers, have no such guarantee. In fact, about 1,900 employees of companies that contract with the Congress have no insurance. Current efforts to privatize services previously performed by Federal Government workers exacerbate this situation. Who are these contractors? They include House restaurant and mailroom staff, electronics technicians, day care providers, accountants, data processors, and construction and maintenance workers. They work hard, pay taxes, and play by the rules; yet, they don't have the same kind of health security that we take for granted.”