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Christopher Dodd on Health Care
It is shameful that in the 21st century we have 47 million of our fellow citizens without heath care coverage, 9 million children, and the number's growing every single day. We've said here, it's basic agreement about universality here, dealing with information technology, preventative care, chronic illnesses. What's been missing in all of this is the ability to bring people together to get the job done.
2007 Dem. debate at Saint Anselm College Jun 3, 2007
Democratic presidential candidate Chris Dodd proposed a universal health coverage plan Thursday with benefits matching those given to federal workers. The plan - released by Dodd as he starts a three-day campaign swing through Iowa - would be phased in over four years and would create an insurance package offered to businesses and individuals with premiums based on their ability to pay.
If you get rid of these permanent tax cuts to the top one percent of income earners, get the war ended in Iraq that we're spending $2 million a week, $8 million a month, we can provide the resources to really move in this direction [towards universal health care]. So I would make it a top priority in my administration. I wouldn't want to put a time frame on it because I think it's too important, but for us to get there as soon as possible.
Introduced the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act. This bipartisan legislation would authorize $100 million over five years for increased and coordinated federal prevention, treatment, and research of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
Offered the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Resiliency Act of 2007. This bill promotes children's mental health by allowing for $205 million for new grants and research initiatives to improve access to and quality of children's mental health services, enhanced of regional and local coordination of treatment, improved collaboration between federal agencies with regard to promoting children's mental health policy, and increased federal research into children’s mental health.
We should build upon the good things we've done already: Forty years of Medicaid and Medicare. I would extend Medicaid to poorer families, hundred percent of poverty; the ones with children, 300 percent of poverty. Those programs have worked very, very well for people. Expanding them, extending them makes a lot of sense too.
SEIU Democratic Health Care Forum in Las Vegas Mar 24, 2007
Everyone participates, everyone benefits. All the stakeholders -- individuals, employers, the government -- are involved in coming up with a system here that would make it possible to reduce those numbers of 47 million of our fellow citizens who have no health care to make sure they'll be included.
You're watching business and industry beginning to reduce those health care plans for people. They're not doing it because they're evil, in most cases they're doing it because of a cost factor. There's a growing constituency that in the past was hostile to the idea of having a universal health care plan that I think didn't understand the economic impact today better than they did 14 years ago.
Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., would create a health insurance marketplace, known as a Universal HealthMart, which would be similar to the coverage plan offered to federal employees.
I mentioned I started the children's caucus in the senate with Arlen Specter some 26 years ago. Twelve million of that 47 million of uninsured are children in our country. The SCHIP 15 program is something I was a strong backer of, supporter of, early author of that legislation to provide those kind of benefits.
I started the children caucus in the Senate. I authored the legislation here with improved Head Start along with other programs dealing with infant screening, premature births, dealing with prescription drugs for children. In every instance I've done it by reaching out to people on the other side of the political spectrum.
Today's vote in the House to uphold the President's shameful veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is yet another reminder of the consequences of disastrous priorities on the part of this White House. With the resources it takes to execute just over three months of the Iraq War, we could fully fund the expansion of health care for needy children that Bush vetoed.
Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., would create a health insurance marketplace, known as a Universal HealthMart, which would be similar to the coverage plan offered to federal employees. All children would be covered under his plan.
Voted YES to striking tax deductible medical savings accounts amendment from bill.
Kassebaum Amdt #3677; Bill S. 1028 ; vote number 1996-72 on Apr 18, 1996
Voted NO on limiting self-employment health deduction. The Santorum (R-PA) amdt would effectively kill the Kennedy Amdt (D-MA) which would have allowed self-employed individuals to fully deduct the cost of their health insurance on their federal taxes.
Santorum Amdt #1234; Bill S. 1344 ; vote number 1999-202 on Jul 13, 1999
Senator Chris Dodd believes in ensuring that all Americans have healthcare coverage, regardless of economic status. The foundation of his plan begins with the establishment of a Health Care General Fund (HCGF). Employers will be forced to either cover their employees, or contribute to the Fund. Americans not covered by their employers will then be required to purchase insurance from the Fund, with prices being based on the worth of the individual’s assets, relative to the federal poverty level. However, small businesses that employ less than ten people will be exempt from having to contribute to the Fund. In the same vein, businesses employing between ten and thirty employees will be eligible for federal assistance in contributing to the Fund.