Bill Text: AZ SCM1001 | 2010 | Forty-ninth Legislature 2nd Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Health care benefits; Congress
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-17 - Referred to Senate RULES Committee [SCM1001 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2010-SCM1001-Introduced.html
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REFERENCE TITLE: health care benefits; Congress |
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State of Arizona Senate Forty-ninth Legislature Second Regular Session 2010
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SCM 1001 |
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Introduced by Senator Nelson
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A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL
urging the congress of the united states to enact health care reform for all americans that does not provide superior services or benefits to members of congress.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
To the Congress of the United States of America:
Your memorialist respectfully represents:
Whereas, members of Congress receive some of the best health care benefits and services in the country—paid at taxpayer expense—yet millions of Americans remain underinsured or uninsured; and
Whereas, immediately on their swearing in, members of Congress may participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), which offers about 300 different private health care plans for all federal employees, retirees and their spouses and dependents. Plans include fee‑for‑service, point-of-service and health maintenance organizations, but all cover hospital, surgical and physician services, mental health services and prescription drugs and offer catastrophic coverage against large medical expenses. Further, these plans have no waiting period and cannot deny coverage based on any preexisting condition; and
Whereas, the federal government pays a substantial portion-up to 75%-of the health insurance premiums for members of Congress and other federal employees; and
Whereas, Representatives and Senators, but not their families, receive additional benefits that other federal employees do not enjoy, including an on-site pharmacy and certain medical services at the Capitol after payment of a fee. Further, members of Congress may receive free or reduced-cost care at military hospitals, including Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center; and
Whereas, as Congress and the President undertake efforts to implement health care reform measures, they must ensure that members of Congress not receive health care benefits under any new plan that are superior to or more generous than those to be provided to the general American public.
Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:
1. That the United States Congress, in implementing health care reform, enact a health care plan with medical benefits and services that are no less generous than those enjoyed by members of Congress.
2. That the United States Congress ensure that all Representatives and Senators be required to enroll in any new government-run health care plan and not be permitted to exclude themselves from a new general health care plan for all Americans.
3. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.
