INTRODUCTION OF THE SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH INSURANCE EXPANSION ACT -- HON. DENNIS MOORE (Extensions of Remarks - September 14, 2000)

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HON. DENNIS MOORE OF KANSAS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Thursday, September 14, 2000

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill that will help uninsured Americans get the health insurance coverage they want and need. It has been endorsed by the Blue Dog Coalition, whose members support this fiscally responsible, targeted solution that will help uninsured Americans and the small businesses where many of them work.

Like a majority of my colleagues, I support the Patients' Bill of Rights that will give patients and their doctors power over health care decisions. I have been frustrated by the slow work of the conference committee in coming to a compromise on this legislation.

I want a Patients' Bill of Rights to pass before Congress adjourns for the year. I want to go home and tell my constituents that I have done what I promised to do. I hope that the bill I am introducing today will provide a middle ground for the conference negotiations. A majority of this House supports the Patients' Bill of Rights, and both Republicans and Democrats can agree that the problem of the uninsured is one of our most pressing public health concerns.

The bill would provide immediate 100 percent deductibility of health insurance premiums for self-employed individuals. My bill also would create a temporary tax credit for small employers who have not offered health insurance in the past two years. The credit will reimburse 20 percent of health insurance costs, up to $400 per year for individuals and $1000 for family coverage. Businesses can get an additional 10 percent tax credit (up to 30 percent total) if they join in a Health Benefit Purchasing Coalition, which provides small employers a way to pool resources, negotiate collectively with insurers, and administer health plans for small employer groups. In order to foster innovation on the state level, the bill creates a state grant program for initiatives that expand health insurance to the uninsured through market innovations.

I have attached the letter sent to Senator NICKLES from the Blue Dog Coalition asking him to consider our bill as a reasonable compromise to the $48 billion access bill that passed the House with no offsets. This bill is targeted, fiscally responsible, and could become law.

Small employers are struggling to provide health insurance coverage for their employees, and Congress should do something to help them. It's the right thing to do for business, and it's the night thing to do for millions of Americans who want and need health insurance.
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