IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1228 
Ensuring access to affordable and quality health care without exacerbating 
the Federal budget or contributing to market inflation while providing 
greater choices for consumers. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 22, 2008 
Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS submitted the following resolution; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to 
the Committees on Ways and Means and the Judiciary, for a period to 
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Ensuring access to affordable and quality health care without 
exacerbating the Federal budget or contributing to mar-
ket inflation while providing greater choices for con-
sumers. 
Whereas the United States health care system is the most ad-
vanced in the world, capable of providing miracle cures 
and the best possible care; 
Whereas there are real challenges facing the current health 
care system, and Congress continues to give top priority 
to increasing access to affordable and quality health care 
and health insurance coverage; 
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•HRES 1228 IH 
Whereas the United States spends substantially more on 
health care than other developed countries, with total 
health care spending reaching $2,200,000,000,000 a year 
or close to $7,000 for each American; 
Whereas health care spending consumes about 17 percent of 
the gross domestic product; 
Whereas there are approximately 47 million uninsured in the 
United States; 
Whereas 18 to 35 year olds are the most underinsured sec-
tion of the population; 
Whereas more than half of the uninsured work for a small 
business; 
Whereas every American should have health insurance cov-
erage and the freedom to choose and control it; 
Whereas Americans value choice and control over their health 
care decisions and greater government involvement in 
their health sector would lead to higher costs, fewer med-
ical discoveries and treatments, delays in access to care, 
and excessive and expensive increase in paperwork and 
bureaucracy; 
Whereas Americans can improve quality and access in a way 
that also reduces costs by bringing more competition and 
choice into their health sector and by giving people tools 
and incentives to become partners in managing their 
health spending and their health care; and 
Whereas Americans must begin to refocus their health sector 
on encouraging wellness and prevention because health 
problems caught early are far less expensive to care for 
and the treatment is far more effective: Now, therefore, 
be it 
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•HRES 1228 IH 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that in order to ensure access to affordable 
and quality health care without exacerbating the Federal 
budget or contributing to market inflation while providing 
greater choices for consumers, the following principles for 
a market-based approach should be included in any health 
care bill considered by the 110th Congress: 
(1) The ability to receive point-of-service health 
care in preventative, emergency, and rehabilitative 
settings in rural and urban areas. This must also 
advance critical health care training programs to re-
tain health care professionals and find a meaningful, 
long-term solution for the sustainable growth rate 
formula that will accurately reimburse physicians for 
the care they provide to Medicare beneficiaries. 
(2) Refundable tax credits for the purchase of 
health insurance by low-income recipients combined 
with laws that allow for association health plans and 
small business health plans. The cost of health care 
is within the reach of families and individuals while 
reducing costs without hurting the patient. 
(3) Medical liability reform to bring some level 
of sanity to the excessive punitive damages that are 
driving up health care costs to the benefit of the 
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