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Universal Coverage is Inevitable
House of Representatives - May 25, 2005

Mr. Speaker, we in the Congress are in danger of becoming as irrelevant to medicine as the use of leaches are to the cure of patients.

Last night the House took what some called a bold step to approve a thoughtful, modest bill to advance stem cell research to use science to alleviate pain and suffering and prolong life.

To its credit the House followed the guiding principle written thousands of years ago by Hippocrates, the father of medicine. "I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice."

That statement was taken directly from the Hippocratic Oath that I and every other medical doctor swears to uphold. That is what we did last night. We took a small step on the path of hope last night but it will not go very far.

The President, bowing to the religious fanatics, has already declared he will veto the stem cell bill. Vowing allegiance to the right wing, the President will use the veto stamp to wash his hands of any hope that science can commute a sentence of debilitating pain and suffering, or even death, imposed on countless Americans.

Other nations are intent on living in the 21st century with or without the United States. Under this administration, we are more dependent than ever on countries to loan us money to keep the lights on under the Republican budget assault. Now the administration intends to make us more dependent than ever before on countries for advances in medicine and science.

We have great research scientists in this country, including the University of Washington. The President will tell them that his administration chooses the religious right over the human right to live your life without pain and suffering. For this, history will judge us equal to the political leadership last seen in the Dark Ages. Despite this, I believe that we are at the dawn of a new medical renaissance, and not even the extreme right wing in this country can stop it. The mass of Americans will stop it.

We have all known someone who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease or Lou Gehrig's disease or diabetes or a spinal cord injury, and now we have hope that stem cell research can unlock the secrets to relieve suffering. We could get there faster if we renew our relevance as political leaders and support groundbreaking scientific and medical research, but we will get there.

Today, 47 million Americans have no health insurance. Millions of other Americans can barely afford health care and still others avoid going to the doctor because of copays or having to work a second or third job to make ends meet. More and more companies are forcing their workers to shoulder most, if not all, of the financial burden of obtaining health care. Health care costs in this country are soaring and there appears to be no end in sight.

This is health care in America today. But tomorrow it will be different.

Scientists have cracked the genetic code, taking the first steps to predicting serious illness and disease before a baby is born. Treatments will come before the baby is born. The day is coming when we will be able to predict and treat serious illness and disease before it strikes.

Traditional health insurance as we know it will end. We will have no alternative, but to have universal national coverage.

Today, we talk about prevention and we mean going to the doctor before we get sick. Tomorrow we will redefine prevention as curing what ails you before it ails you. The heroes and heroines are working in the research laboratories right now. People do not read about it in the newspapers or see it on television, but they are there and they are changing their world for the better. It will not come easy and it will not come quick, and in some cases, it will not come cheap.

I look ahead to see a world where we care enough about one another that we will vow as a nation to follow the oath I take as a doctor. Do everything in your power to alleviate pain and suffering.

We voted for hope in the House of Representatives last night. The President will try and take that away. But he cannot stop the spark of genius God gave to men and women of faith and science.

The American people may not have reason to believe in their national leaders, but they do have every reason to be proud of the men and women who use science, intellect and personal faith to save lives and end suffering.

Universal coverage is coming sooner than you think.