Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2004

SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH FAIRNESS ACT OF 2004 -- (House of Representatives - May 13, 2004)

Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 638, I call up the bill (H.R. 4281) to amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) in offering this motion to recommit.

To protect the health benefits that women and children currently have today, we must not allow association health plans to deny necessary care for women and their children.

This motion to recommit stops association health plans from refusing to cover state-mandated health benefits for well-child care visits and maternity coverage or other types of care that is vital to our families. Children deserve a healthy start in life.

In Minnesota and 30 other States, children are guaranteed regular visits to their pediatricians to get the necessary care they deserve. Well-child care ensures that children get the vaccinations and immunizations that they need to protect themselves from preventable diseases like measles and mumps.

Regular doctor visits for newborns are absolutely critical. Thirty-three children are born every day with severe hearing loss. If caught early through preventative doctor visits, we can make a positive difference in the lives of our children, and we can save future dollars spent on special education.

Having early access to adequate health care can prevent illness, identify disabilities and reduce future health costs.
The motion we are offering ensures that families who have health coverage that protects the health of women and children today will not lose it tomorrow.

Today, we should be considering legislation to ensure quality comprehensive health care for our Nation's working families, not cutting basic benefits.

I urge my colleagues to support the motion to recommit and to protect important State laws that protect the health of women and children.