Date: 1994-06-16
Speaker: PETE GEREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentlewoman from Connecticut for yielding. and I also want to add my words to those who tonight thank her for having this special order to help us explore this issue in greater detail. It is an issue that is in front of us as Members. of Congress. and it is the issue. I think. that has done more to drive a wedge between where we are and the chances of accomplishing meaningful health reform than any other issue in front of us as a Congress. and the reason is because we. those of us here tonight. most of the Members of Congress.and most of America. understands the importance of small business. Small business. and I borrow from Chevrolet. but small business is the heartbeat of America. That is where our job growth comes from. That is where our innovation comes from. That is what keeps us on top of the world in so many areas. and that is in spiteof this tremendous number of unfunded mandates that the Federal Government. and the State Government. has continued to lay on top of small business. The gentleman from Minnesota went into some detail on that. but it amazes me what kind of resiliency our business sector has in spite. of all we do to it. But it has got a strong heart. and it has got determination. but it cannot continue to take it. and it cannot continue to survive with the kind of burden that we continue to shovel on it. It is drowning in a sea of red tape. Mr. Speaker. these small businesses do not have a room full of lawyers. a room full of accountants. to figure out this maze of regulations that would come with a mandate that had exceptions and offered all sorts of ways to either qualify or not qualify for the various subsidies associated with it. and to expect them to have to live with that kind of regulation and burden is unrealistic. People who ask that of them do not understand how hard it is just to keep the doors open and keep .E H4647 the business going. and that would be the most expensive mandate of all. In Texas they have estimated we would lose 52.000 jobs if this mandate were put in place. The Presidents own estimates. his economic advisers have said. it would lose 600.000 jobs nationwide. That is a lot of families who would suffer if this were to be put in place. These cumbersome and expensive mandates. people wonder why the jobs are going elsewhere. why they are going overseas. Well. Mr. Speaker. I say. you dont have to look -very far. With mandates such as these. folks just get tired of it and give up. And want to make one point. Is there a particular group that would suffer in this? And there is. It is the firsttime job seeker. the young men. the young women. right out of high school and college at the beginning of their career. They are at their lowest earning capacity that they will have in their entire career. They may start out at $12.000. $15.000. $18.000 a year. and perhaps even lower. and add the cost of an employer mandate for health care premiums on top of that. and it makes them unemployable. That is who is going to pay the price here. these young people who are struggling. who have it as tough as any group of young people have ever had it in the history. of this country. and we are going to shovel another burden on their back and make it so much more difficult for them to get started. I do not think any of us have to be told how hard it is for them to get started today in the current climate without having this $2.000. $3.000. or $4.000. cost associated with their first job. It is not fair to ask that of them. Let me just close with a personal anecdote. I had a lady come up to me at a bakery that is in my neighbor.hood. It is a small bakery. They have got about 12 employees. some part time. some full time. and she said: We are barely getting by right now. If this mandate were to be put upon us. Id close my doors. My parents owned this before me. We have been a part of this neighborhood my whole life. and. if this mandate were to come about. and. when I look at what Im able to pay my employees. and none of us gets rich. not the owners. not the ones who work here. but. if Im forced to pay health insurance for these folks. we are gone. Were out of business. Well be out of business the day that mandate takes hold and becomes a requirement for this little bakery. Those are the kinds of bakeries and businesses that truly are the heart and soul of our country. They are the heartbeat of America. It is the American dream. and these kinds of mandates. without Congress considering the consequences. are really what is denying the American dream to so many people and putting the American dream further and further out of reach. and again I just want to thank the gentlewoman from Connecticut for having this opportunity to discuss this issue. and I appreciate the leadership she has shown on it. H4648 c