Russ Feingold: “today I introduce the Health Care Reform Expedited Procedures Act of 2004, legislation that requires Congress to act on…”

“today I introduce the Health Care Reform Expedited Procedures Act of 2004, legislation that requires Congress to act on what may be the most pressing domestic policy issue of our time, namely health care reform. I travel to each of Wisconsin's 72 counties every year to hold town hall meetings. Year after year, the number one issue raised at these Listening Sessions is the same--health care. The failure of our health care system brings people to these meetings in droves. The frustration I hear, the anger and the desperation, have convinced me that we must change the system. So many people now come to tell me that they used to think government involvement was a terrible idea, but not anymore. Now they tell me that their businesses are being destroyed by health care costs, and they want the government to step in. These costs are crippling our economy just as the Nation is struggling to rebound from the loss of millions of manufacturing jobs. Our health care system has failed to keep costs in check. Costs are skyrocketing, and there is simply no way we can expect businesses to keep up. So in all too many cases, employers are left to offer sub-par benefits, or to wonder whether they can offer any benefits at all. Employers cannot be the sole provider of health care when these costs are rising faster than inflation.”