Providing for Consideration of H.R. 525, Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 525, SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH FAIRNESS ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - July 26, 2005)

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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague on the Committee on Rules, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop), for yielding me this time; and I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying legislation, the Small Business Health Fairness Act.

Mr. Speaker, a trip to the doctor should not bust the family budget. Too many of America's small business employees go without health insurance or pay a big chunk of their paycheck for health care. This House has acted on four separate occasions in a bipartisan way to pass reforms that will allow small business owners to provide their employees with affordable health insurance options, yet our efforts to help reduce the ranks of the uninsured has not gone forward.

This crucial legislation allows small business owners to have similar purchasing power for health insurance as large corporations. The creation of association health plans will permit small business owners to band together through a trade association or other method to purchase health insurance for them and their employees. The ability to provide health insurance is critical for our small businesses to remain competitive.

Mr. Speaker, workers are frustrated with paying the high cost of health care. Congress needs to finish this job and pass association health plans into law. I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying legislation.

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