> > I HAVE PROVIDED ONLY THE HEALTH-REFORM-RELATED SECTIONS OF THE > PRESIDENT'S WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS. > > -- STEVE FREEDKIN > > THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release July 30, 1994 RADIO ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATION THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This was a good week for America as we Americans were reminded again not just of our problems, but of the immense possibilities of our times and our country. [...] [T]this week, after six years of delay, congressional leaders finally reached agreement on the toughest, largest, smartest federal attack on crime in the history of our country. [...] If six years is long enough to wait for a crime bill, then 60 years is certainly long enough to wait for health care coverage for every American. Now it's time for us to move forward to yet another historic front, one that seven Presidents of both parties have sought -- guaranteeing every American health coverage that can never be taken away. Soon, Congress will deliberate on bills to provide health security -- the first time ever that such bills have even been voted out of congressional committees. We know from our experience only one way that really works -- the way that works for the great majority of our families already: getting health insurance on the job. It's a way that's worked in Hawaii for 20 years, where health insurance is cheaper than it is in the rest of the country. It's the way that relies on the private sector, not government; that rewards work, not welfare; that builds on shared responsibilities between employers and employees. Many other partial reforms sound good and aren't as controversial to implement and have been tried elsewhere. But the experience is that often these more limited reforms actually reduce the number of people with health insurance and increase rates. In Hawaii, where everyone contributed so that everyone could be covered, insurance rates went down and coverage went up. Some in Congress are trying to kill health care reform all together. If we don't act this year, 3 million more working Americans will lose their health coverage next year; 5 million more Americans are uninsured now than were insured five years ago. The American people don't need more hemming and hawing. They need health care they can count on so they can get on with building their lives. Later today, I'll be in Independence, Missouri, the home of President Harry Truman, to talk about health care. President Truman believed in the common sense and the common decency of the American people. And he tried very hard to get health care security for all Americans. It's time for us to fulfill Harry Truman's mission; to act with his vision and courage; to do what he always believed we should do -- guarantee health security for all Americans. Let's continue to build a land of limitless hope, and to remain an inspiration to the world. Thanks for listening. END