macleginn/stanford_congress_record_longer_speeches huggingface dataset:
Date: 1998-03-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman. There is real concern going on. because as we began to talk about the patient concerns. we began to see ads coming onto television to attempt to actually frighten people. I think that what we are attempting to do now makes a lot of sense. As long as we have health care that is focusing on how much dollars the insurance companies can save and how much they make. and they make a lot of money. then we get away from patient basic needs. Clearly. we want every business. legitimate business to make money. but in health care when it is only focused on how much the insurance companies make. we tend to get away from basic human desires and needs. I believe we have gone too far. and I think that is one of the reasons why- bipartisanly concerns now are being expressed here in the Congress. We are seeing situations where patients are being taken away from the doctors they -have had for 25 or 30 years. and- they do not get an opportunity to get to know who the doctor is on that staff because they do not spend any time with them. The anxiety levels go up. and often the interventions. the contact the patients might have might increase instead of decrease. We see a number of people in my district that are complaining about getting sick after 5 oclock. or getting to the office of an HMO about a quarter to 5 and they close at 5 and they will not let them in. and if they are really sick they have to go to the emergency room. which costs twice as much as -having a simple intervention. When patients have to give up physicians that know -them individually and know their records. because no matter what the illness is. individual bodies react differently. and when they have had the same physician for a number of years and all of a sudden they have to give that physician up. it affects that patient negatively. The complaints are so great that I do not know how we can address them without this legislation. When we talk about Patients Bill of Rights. often nobody knows what we are talking about. but it is really a very simple thing to address the concerns that patients have now. I suppose that one of the major concerns is the fact that they cannot choose their own physician. which often makes it so that they have to travel miles across town to get to where they need to go. and this is especially a problem in a large metropolitan area that I represent a major part of. When we have people that live 25 and 30 miles away from the nearest office of an HMO. and they are elderly and they are depending on public transportation. it makes it very difficult to get there. And if they work. it makes it almost impossible to get preventive care. which is primary care. which is the least expensive care. which is the most important to invest in. because once someone gets the information. learns how to take care of themselves. it reduces the health care bill because they do not have to go as often when they have that information.
Date: 1998-03-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Yds. It is clear that. if every person chose every doctor that they wanted or not wanted to move from any physician. it probably would interfere. clearly it would interfere with the concept of a health maintenance organization. However. there ought to be choices within that network. Personnel does not always click with personalities. Often. physicians as skilled as they are. might have particular areas with which they .show concern. and they are very interested in a particular area and might not be as interested in another area. I think that patients ought to have a right to choose within that network what physician they see. because that patient/physician relationship has a lot to do with the progress of that patient. This is a new experience anyway for these patients. and just having that opportunity could make it a much more acceptable experiencefor them. We recognize that the cost of health care soared. We understand that these interventions are for the purpose of controlling some of that cost. But when we have to give up all of the quality. it is not worth it. We have to maintain a level of quality that our patients can do well with. In order for them to do well. they absolutely have to have some choices. Not everyone can go to the hospital with the same diagnosis and -get out in 3 days. It might take some 5.
Date: 1998-03-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

That is correct. Clearly. that is why we have specialists. because certain physicians specialize in areas that are needed. We need the specialists. If patients do not have access to those specialists. then we are not offering them the greatest opportunity for recovery or for getting the best information that they can have. the best approaches for taking care of themselves. Clearly. a majority of the longterm care can be selfadministered. But they must have the information. they must have access to the right and the best information in order to do well and to prosper healthwise after making the intervention with the health care provider. We cannot get away from having some type of individualized- care. We cannot wholesale all health care. Human beings are different. They react to medications differently. They do better under various different circumstances. That has to be taken into consideration. When we get to the point where absolutely no individualized opportunities are there for patients. then we have gotten away from the real meaning of having health care and really even having specialists. We have come to a point where we must allow a physician to practice medicine. Physicians are trained. They are educated. They must be allowed to practice medicine. Insurance companies simply cannot practice medicine for that physician. They must be given the leeway of practice so that they can look at that patient and determine what is best for that patient. We have gotten a little bit away from much of that. I have had numerous visits from hospital staff. from physicians themselves asking for that right to have the opportunity to simply practice their art. That is what they are educated for. They have the expertise. No insurance company can make that determination for individual patients. Sure we can have broad categories. but physicians must retain their right to practice.
Date: 1998-03-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

That is why it is so important that we consider legislation now. because it gets to be rather unmanageable to have to bring every particular ailment before this Congress to legislate for that particular ailment. We need a systemic type of approach. Unless we have an overall general approach as we get the outcry from our constituents around the country. we will be piecemealing it. Every year. we will put something else to be covered by an insurance company or how it is to be covered. That also is not a wise way to do the reforms for our health care system. We need a more organized. a more intellectualized way of approaching these problems. But if we fail to do that. we will have to continue to look at mastectomies one year. childbirth the next year. prostate surgery the next year. and something else the next year. That is not the appropriate way to address problems.
Date: 1998-03-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

That is correct. If someone gets ill in traffic on their way home from work. and they happen to stop by an HMO. I had a constituent that this happened to just recently. 15 minutes before it is to close. and be told to come back the next day because they are getting ready to leave. The person has to go to the emergency room. and he ends up being hospitalized. Then that is a situation that can only be governed by a change of attitude where the attitude is toward the care of that patient rather than watching the clock for an employee making a decision at the door before a physician is even seen. This is when the system is out of control. When the price tag goes up. the cost emotionally and physically to the patient is greater because the employees say it is 15 minutes before it is time for us to get off. and we simply cannot take care of it today. I do not want to be here overtime.
Date: 1998-03-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

One of the fallacies of a system that has failed us is distrust. one of the outcomes. Once the patients distrust a system. the cost of it generally goes up. because there are more complaints. more anxieties. more concerns. and not confident that the quality of care will -be there.
Date: 1998-03-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Oh. indeed. Most obstetricians will tell us that depression and anxiety after childbirth. especially for the first child. is very common. If that mother is forced to leave the hospital while they are still in a real state of uncertainty and not confident whether they know exactly what to do. they are more likely to exaggerate and exacerbate those symptoms than to have their anxieties alleviated. Clearly. just 24 hours. which we saw the need to correct in the last Congress. is not enough to ensure that that anxiety will not cause unnecessary bleeding and lots of other symptoms that might occur. When we insist upon these very hard decisions. notwithstanding what that individual reaction might be. then the system has gotten away from the human part of it. That is a major part of healing. That is a major part of wellbeing with anyone who has a physical symptom. It seems to me that. under the current system. without correction. we have just said it does not matter. It really does not matter. As long as we stay within the guidelines of this insurance company. that is all that matters. I do not believe this country is ready for a system that does not care. I think that is why the outcry is now. It is not that people do not respect and do not feel the need for some type of reform. It is just that when that reform becomes so calculating. so antihuman that it becomes then a failed system. That is why we have the outcry now. It does not take a lot of big government to correct it. It really takes a very few simple steps to do it that will not be costly. As a matter of fact. I think the costs will be greater to ignore the demands of our general public. This approach is not partisan. It is really not going to be solved based upon any hardcore decisions. It is going to be solved with us recognizing that patients across this country from all income levels. all walks of life. are rejecting what their experiences are now. I believe we restore the confidence and restore some quality that patients deserve when we can address this through this simple. what we call the patients Bill of Rights. It is really not asking a lot. It certainly does not bring in a big government arm to direct everyone around. but it does return some reason. It does return some rights to the patient. that they can feel confident that they have just a little bit of say about what happens to them when they are ill. It is not a free system. It as a matter of fact. it costs more for the patients to get less. And that will not change with what we are talking about doing. That clearly will not change. But what can change is to have a little better opportunity for a little bit more quality in that care.
Date: 1998-03-10
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for his leadership. I hope that we can depend on our Republican leadership to be responsive to the voices of the American people.. It is not just Democrats that we are hearing from. My district has as many Republican voices speaking out and asking for some type of redress as do Democrats. It is an issue that all Americans have concern about. especially those working Americans who cannot actually pay for the cost of health -insurance in an independent plan. We know we have to have these larger. supposedly affordable plans. But these plans do not work with gag orders. These plans are not Working with all of the restrictions. Patients need a little bit more freedom of choice. and they need to feel confident that there is a little that they can expect coming to them after paying into these plans. I do not believe it is asking too much. I think the profits for the insurance companies would still be good. because in the long run it would reduce cost. it would reduce cost because you reduce anxiety. you reduce skepticism and you restore some confidence that when care is needed. care will be there. Once we restore some of that confidence. remove the gag orders so they will know the full truth. then I believe that we will certainly continue to control that cost. Otherwise. we have a system that is considered to be broken. And just because we ignore those voices does not mean they are going away. They will continue to speak out. I think we have a duty and a responsibility to be responsive to those voices. I thank the gentleman for his leadership.
Date: 1998-03-17
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. this should be a very busy time for this House. Many of us should come to the floor in support of these resolutions. I thank the gentleman from Nebraska . I know that we spent some time. together at the European Union on these issues. I think certainly H. Res. 361. if I might. simply adds to the importance of allowing for free and impartial elections. the rule of law and human rights. I really rise. Mr. Speaker. as a member of the Human Rights Caucus. and .therefore these issues are very. very near and dear to our effort and the message that I believe is very important as a part of this Nations foreign policy. For too many we have been chastised for trying to be the police of the world. I would rather think of us as the conscience of the world. Certainly it is important with so many Cambodians here in the United States that we recognize the importance of free elections and human rights. I believe that human rights allows a nation to stand on its feet. Human rights engenders economic opportunity and advancement. Human rights provides for opportunities to educate all of your people. Human rights gives the free marketplace an opportunity to work. And so H. Res. 361 is more than policing the world. it is opening the doors of opportunity. With that. Mr. Speaker. I would like to add my appreciation and support of H. Res. 373. which is commending democracy in Botswana. Here we have a very small nation of 2 million people in subSaharan Africa. I had the pleasure of visiting it as part of the presidential mission in December. Probably to the surprise of many of my colleagues. this nation has been democracy filled for 31 years. In fact it has created a multiparty democracy. It is the oldest freestanding democracy in Africa with their first President elected. Mr. Koma. in 1966. who remained in office until his passing. With the present President Mr. Masire. who came in 1994. they have had an unblemished record of democracy. What has it engendered for them? A high economy. free housing for many of its citizens. peace in the streets. And so the question becomes to my colleagues. I hope that they will support both of these resolutions. because what does peace and human rights and justice beget us? It begets us the opportunities that we have here in this country. Yes. Americas foreign policy and domestic policy are not perfect. but it certainly does not mean that we cannot stand up and demand and require our allies and friends to recognize the importance and value of human rights. With that. Mr. Speaker. I would ask certainly for continued support and passage of H. Res. 373 and support for H. Res. 361.
Date: 1998-03-17
Speaker: SHIRLEY KRAMER (democrat)
Chamber: H

VFW Post 8832 Roundhead Lakeview. OH. DEAR FRIENDS: I just learned that you will be celebrating your 50th anniversary this month. Please allow me to add my name to the list of wellwishers on this great occasion. This is quite a milestone and one that you all can certainly be proud of achieving. This achievement validates all your hard work and dedication. The community owes a debt of gratitude for all that you have contributed to it every since your beginnings in 1948. I commend all your many worthwhile programs which benefit our hospitals. youth. veterans. and families. I look forward to 50 more exciting years from VFW Post 8832 Ladies Auxiliary. Roundhead. Once again. congratulations on your anniversary and please keep up the great work. Sincerely.
Date: 1998-04-01
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I am delighted to stand in favor of BESTEA today. I owe a lot of gratitude to our leaders on this committee. the gentleman from Pennsylvania and the gentleman from Minnesota . and the rest. This bill provides resources to meet Americas infrastructure needs. not frivolous. but needs that have been expressed by persons throughout. this Nation. and not just by Members here. but all the people that we represent. This bill provides an unprecedented commitment td improve safety on Americas highways and to help reduce the 40.000 annual deaths from motor vehicles. It improves the safety for commercial motor vehicles. The Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program has been refined to focus on performancebased goals. and funding for this program has been significantly increased. That is important. It strengthens and emphasizes our Federal- commitment to the national systems of transportation that facilitate interstate travel. Being from Texas. a border State. it creates a new border infrastructure program to ensure that needs from NAFTArelated trade and safety issues are addressed. These are very important components for the State of Texas and for our Nation. It significantly increases funding for the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program. while making some minor adjustments to the programs eligibility. All of these areas help the entire Nation. but especially does it help Texas. a very large State with lots of people with lots of cars that they hate to give up. There are elements of this bill that will address that area. Not only is it a big State. it is one of the fastestgrowing States. We have so many people on the highways every day and on our streets and roads getting to work. It is this bill that addresses those issues and helps to solve our problem. It is our responsibility as legislators to make sure that our transportation system is as safe and accessible as possible.
Date: 1998-04-01
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I rise to oppose this amendment. I want the record to be clear. This is a proposal that has been worked out. It is the same language that is in the Senate bill. It was an agreement within the committee. Clearly. this is meant to be corrective action. If it was true that we no longer needed the DBE program. I would be the first person to want to give it up. All of my political career I have had to come to the forefront to try to defend and make opportunities. not to be better than anyone else. and certainly not to lower standards. but to make opportunities for those women and those minorities who do not get them without a program. It is unconscionable that we would stand to deny people who can work hard. people that just do not look like white men. and defend their ability as Americans. as citizens. as persons who work just as hard. to get a simple opportunity. This is a sad day to see that we still have people who are willing to deny people who work hard. who take on the same responsibility. are not asking for anything. they are only asking for an opportunity. I oppose this amendment.
Date: 1998-04-22
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to pay special tribute to one of our great leaders. Congresswoman Bella Abzug. I was deeply saddened to hear of Ms. Abzugs passing last month and- would like to take this opportunity to recognize her many accomplishments. Over the years. Congresswoman Abzug worked diligently to improve the status of women. Not content to work only on the behalf of the State of New York. she concentrated on issues such as the environment. civil rights. gay rights. education. affordable healthcare and many other issues of national concern. � This highly visible Congresswoman served as a member of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation and chaired the Subcommittee on Government Information and Individual Rights. She helped create the "Government in the Sunshine Law" which allows the public to have greater access to government records. In addition. during her service in Congress. she was able to help pass several laws that target and prevent sex discrimination. Without a doubt. the country is a much better place for women and men alike because of her leadership in Congress over the years. Outside of her congressional career. Ms. Abzug led the way in improving the status of women. In 1971. Abzug cofounded the National Womens Political Caucus. As a firm believer in economic. social and political equality for women. she was appointed cochair of the National Advisory Committee for Women. In 1995. she helped organize the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing. during that conference she received many awards and accolades. As a crusader in the civil rights movement. Ms. Abzug expressed her opposition to the exclusion of AfricanAmericans from juries and their receipt of harsher criminal sentences. During the 1950s. she helped draft legislation that was incorporated into the Civil Rights Act of 1954 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Yesterday. in welcoming BARBARA LEE and MARY BONO as new Members of the House. many speakers noted the unprecedented number of women now serving in Congress. All of the women Members of Congress owe a large debt of gratitude to Bella Abzug. the woman who trail blazed the path for us. Bella Abzug followed her heart and was always a crusader for just causes. We have lost a valuable colleague and role model and I will always remember her as one of the most influential women of the world. I am confident that her wisdom and spirit will be continued and remembered by all.