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[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 271 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 271

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 8, 2002

Received and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
                                Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
    Expressing the sense of the Congress that public awareness and 
education about the importance of health care coverage is of the utmost 
 priority and that a National Importance of Health Care Coverage Month 
             should be established to promote these goals.

Whereas census estimates indicate that some 42 million Americans are without 
        health insurance coverage, many of whom are among the most vulnerable of 
        American citizens who can be financially devastated by serious illness, 
        disease, or accident;
Whereas studies have shown that people with health insurance are healthier than 
        those who are uninsured and

receive care through emergency rooms or safety net health care services, 
because the insured are entitled to, and receive, more preventive care, 
follow-up care, and care for chronic conditions such as diabetes and high 
blood pressure;

Whereas over 17.3 million of the uninsured are employed, but are not offered 
        health insurance through their employers;
Whereas such employers are small business owners who are often unaware of the 
        benefits of offering insurance, including the fact that it is tax 
        deductible, that it helps to reduce employee turnover, and that it helps 
        to reduce employee sick days;
Whereas over 16 million people, more than one-third of the uninsured, are in 
        families where at least one member of the family has been offered 
        employer based health care coverage but has turned it down;
Whereas many citizens are eligible for public assistance programs such as the 
        State Children's Health Insurance Program, known as SCHIP, and the 
        Medicaid program, but are not currently enrolled due primarily to lack 
        of outreach, education, and accessible enrollment processes;
Whereas studies have shown that many citizens and small businesses are unaware 
        of the various options they have for obtaining affordable health care 
        coverage;
Whereas surveys have shown that many individuals who cite expense as the reason 
        for not purchasing insurance find it to be affordable once they are 
        informed of the true cost of various options; and
Whereas education about health care coverage helps uninsured citizens and 
        employers to understand the critical value of health insurance as a 
        preventive measure, as well as the ways to keep their health insurance 
        premiums manageable once they have health care coverage: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) a National Importance of Health Care Coverage Month 
        should be established to promote a multifaceted educational 
        effort about the importance of health care coverage, and to 
        increase awareness of the many available health care coverage 
        options, and should include efforts to inform those eligible 
        for public insurance programs of how to access those programs; 
        and
            (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling on 
        the Federal Government, States, localities, citizens, and 
        businesses of the United States to conduct appropriate 
        programs, fairs, ceremonies, and activities to promote this 
        educational effort.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 7, 2002.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.
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