IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 410 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the enactment of legislation 
that provides access to comprehensive health care for all Americans. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 19, 2006 
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY (for herself, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. STARK, Ms. LEE, Ms. 
WOOLSEY, Mr. KUCINICH, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. BRADY of 
Pennsylvania, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. CLAY, Mr. 
CROWLEY, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. 
DELAHUNT, Mr. EMANUEL, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. EVANS, Mr. FARR, Mr. 
FATTAH, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. HINCHEY, 
Ms. NORTON, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. JEFFER-
SON, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Mr. 
LANGEVIN, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. 
MCCOLLUM of Minnesota, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. 
GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. NADLER, Mr. OLVER, Mr. OWENS, 
Mr. PALLONE, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. RUSH, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. 
SERRANO, Ms. SOLIS, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. TIERNEY, Mr. 
TOWNS, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. WATERS, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. 
WEXLER, and Mr. WYNN) submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the enactment 
of legislation that provides access to comprehensive 
health care for all Americans. 
Whereas the United States has the most expensive health 
care system in the world in terms of absolute costs, per 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:19 May 20, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC410.IH
HC410
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS
•HCON 410 IH
capita costs, and percentage of gross domestic product 
(GDP); 
Whereas despite being first in spending, the World Health 
Organization has ranked the United States 37th among 
all nations in terms of meeting the health care needs of 
its people; 
Whereas nearly 46 million Americans, including 8,000,000 
children, are uninsured; 
Whereas tens of millions more Americans are inadequately in-
sured, including Medicare beneficiaries who lack access to 
meaningful prescription drug coverage and affordable 
long term care coverage; 
Whereas racial, income, and ethnic disparities in access to 
care threaten communities across the country, particu-
larly communities of color; 
Whereas health care costs continue to increase, jeopardizing 
the financial and health security of working families and 
small businesses; 
Whereas dollars that could be spent on health care are being 
used for administrative costs instead of patient needs; 
Whereas the current health care system too often puts the 
bottom line ahead of patient care and threatens safety 
net providers who treat the uninsured and poorly insured; 
and 
Whereas any health care reform must ensure that health care 
providers and practitioners are able to provide patients 
with the quality care they need: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that legis-
lation should be enacted by October 1, 2008, to guarantee 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:19 May 20, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HC410.IH
HC410
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS
•HCON 410 IH
that every person in the United States, regardless of in-
come, age, or employment or health status, is entitled to 
receive all medically necessary care under a system of care 
that meets the following requirements: 
(1) The system provides a single universal 
standard of excellence in care applied to all patients. 
(2) Under the system, care is affordable to all 
individuals and families, businesses, and taxpayers 
and there are no financial barriers to needed care. 
(3) The system is as cost efficient as possible, 
spending the maximum amount of dollars on direct 
patient care. 
(4) The system provides comprehensive bene-
fits, including benefits for mental health and long 
term care services. 
(5) The system promotes prevention and early 
intervention. 
(6) The system includes parity for mental 
health and other services. 
(7) The system eliminates disparities in access 
to quality health care. 
(8) The system addresses the needs of people 
with special health care needs and underserved pop-
ulations in rural and urban areas. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:19 May 20, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HC410.IH
HC410
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS
•HCON 410 IH
(9) The system promotes quality and better 
health outcomes. 
(10) The system addresses the need to have 
adequate numbers of qualified health care care-
givers, practitioners, and providers to guarantee 
timely access to quality care. 
(11) The system provides adequate and timely 
payments in order to guarantee access to providers. 
(12) The system fosters a strong network of 
health care facilities, including safety-net providers. 
(13) The system ensures continuity of coverage 
and continuity of care. 
(14) The system maximizes consumer choice of 
health care providers and practitioners. 
(15) The system is easy for patients, providers, 
and practitioners to use and reduces paperwork. 
(16) The system provides patients with suffi-
cient information to make informed decisions when 
selecting their health care providers. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
20:19 May 20, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HC410.IH
HC410
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with BILLS